March 29, 2008

The Pride of Us All

The dictionary explains pride as being self-respect or satisfaction over one’s accomplishments. We must first understand that all things are done by the will of God. It is by his Grace he allow us to have self-respect or satisfaction over one’s accomplishments. Grace is unmerited favor, unearned benefits, undeserved kindness, God’s amazing gift of forgiveness of sins and power to live with dignity in the present and with hope for the future. Lets look at what the Bible says about this. In the book of Philippians 2:13 it says for it is God who works in you to will and act according to his good purpose. Now look at Revelation 4:11 it says Your are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.

John warns us about this world. Look at 1John 2:15 it says Do not Love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the worldthe cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and doescomes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.

Now look at 1Corinthians 3:21 it says So then, no more boasting about men! All things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the futureall are yours, and you are of Christ, and Christ is of God.

Look at 1Corinthians 1:18 it says For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written: I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate. Paul tell us in 1Corinthians 1:10 it says I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought.

Now look at 1Corinthians 4:6 it says Now, brothers, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us the meaning of the saying, Do not go beyond what is written. Then you will not take pride in one man over against another. For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?

Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich! You have become kingsand that without us! How I wish that you really had become kings so that we might be kings with you! For it seems to me that God has put us apostles on display at the end of the procession, like men condemned to die in the arena. We have been made a spectacle to the whole universe, to angels as well as to men. We are fools for Christ, but you are so wise in Christ!

We are weak, but you are strong! You are honored, we are dishonored! To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are in rags, we are brutally treated, we are homeless. We work hard with our own hands. When we are cursed, we bless, when we are persecuted, we endure it; when we are slandered, we answer kindly. Up to this moment we have become the scum of the earth, the refuse of the world. I am not writing this to shame you, but to warn you, as my dear children. Even though you have ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel. Therefore I urge you to imitate me.

In closing look at Corinthians 10:23 it says Everything is permissiblebut not everything is beneficial. Everything is permissiblebut not everything is constructive. Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others. Just remember in this day of September 2005, Jesus is still alive. You are Bless to be a Blessing to others.

Love Always,
Your Sister in Christ,
Mellody Davis