Disappointed with God

CONSIDER
Too often we are disappointed with God because He did not respond in a way we thought He should. We place expectations on Him that He has never promised to fulfill. And then in our frustration and disillusionment we whine that God is distant and uncaring. It is true that His ways are incomprehensible, but for some reason we think we have Him all figured out. “Oh, how great are God’s riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand his decisions and his ways!” (Rom. 11:33 NLT).


BIBLE TRUTH

“For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. I will be found by you," says the Lord. (Jer. 29:11–14 NLT)

HOW DOES THIS APPLY TO ME?
God does not want to hide from you. He desires an intimate relationship with you. So then why do we have to seek? God doesn’t work like we expect Him to. We find Him and His answers in the most unlikely places.

PRAYER
Lord, I am so grateful that You publicly proclaim bold promises. You do not whisper obscurities in some dark corner. You would not have told me to seek You if You could not be found. I know that You, the Lord, speak only what is true and declare only what is right. . . . (Isa. 45:19)


(excerpts from Desperate Dependency by J. Kirk & Melanie D. Lewis)

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Our Deliverer

CONSIDER
God is extending deliverance to us as we rely on Him. The question is, will you in your desperation depend on God? Will you respond to the invitation God gives to you? Will you continue in your self-effort? Will you believe the same lies? Will you commit the same sins? Will you experience the same problems over and over again? Or will you realize that you are a child of the King with an inheritance already in your possession?

BIBLE TRUTH
“It is not by force nor by strength, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies”(Zech. 4:6 NLT).

HOW DOES THIS APPLY TO ME?
God’s job is to bring us into the image of His Son, Jesus Christ, by whatever holy means are appropriate. God uses love to promote purity (1 John 3:1–3), goodness to promote repentance (Rom. 2:4), patience to promote redemption (Luke 8:4–15), discipline to produce maturity (Heb. 12:5–10), and pain to promote growth (Heb. 12:11). God uses trials to bring us to completion (James 1:2–4), tribulation to produce hope (Rom. 5:3–5), trauma of truth to produce brokenness (2 Cor. 7:8–11), and thorns in the flesh to produce dependency (2 Cor. 12:7–10). All His blessings are for achieving the one purpose of transforming us into the image of Jesus Christ. This endeavor is His most important task. All facets of God’s economy function to produce Jesus’ image within our souls, bringing glory to Him as we depend on Him. God produces His essence within us as we yield to Him.

PRAYER
God, I am certain that You, who began the good work within me, will continue Your work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. . . . (Phil. 1:6)


(excerpts from Desperate Dependency by J. Kirk & Melanie D. Lewis)

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The Great Connection

CONSIDER
The great and precious promises of God connect us to His divine nature. As a result of this connection, we possess the moral capacity to be holy and the emotional ability to be healthy. His promises give us the direction to arrive at His ultimate destination of Christlikeness.

BIBLE TRUTH

Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. For if you live by its dictates, you will die. But if through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. (Rom. 8:12–14 NLT)

HOW DOES THIS APPLY TO ME?
Although we are not fully aware of all aspects of our inheritance, God’s promises provide a taste of the expectations He fulfills so we may live with earnest anticipation as we experience His life living through us. His promises are not merely for the hereafter, but encompass life here and now. God provides the solution for life change. By acting on His promises we have His resolution to all problems and deliverance from the social ills that plague us. We do not comprehend that the solutions to all of life’s problems stem from believing and acting on the promises of God. God is literally saying to you, “I can solve your emotional problems, your parenting problems, your relationship problems, your mental problems, all of your problems, if you will trust My truths.” If our Christianity does not make a difference with our problems, then we have a problem with our Christianity.

PRAYER
God, because of Your glory and excellence You have given me great and precious promises! These are the promises that enable me to share Your divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires. . . . (2 Pet. 1:4)



(excerpts from Desperate Dependency by J. Kirk & Melanie D. Lewis)

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Blessed by Our Benefactor

CONSIDER
As our benefactor, God provides from the resources of His kindness, love, and mercy, through the abundance of His grace, to complete our souls. He does not give us what we deserve but from an overflow of His generosity. It is ironic that when we think of God’s benefits, we most often visualize our version of what the blessing should look like. We often miss experiencing God as our benefactor because we want Him to bequeath to us people, positions, and possessions, believing that through these we would be fulfilled.

BIBLE TRUTH

But—“When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love, he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior. Because of his grace he declared us righteous and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life." (Titus 3:4–7 NLT)

HOW DOES THIS APPLY TO ME?
The benefits of God include His purchasing our freedom through His Son, Jesus Christ. This freedom affords the privilege of entering His home as His child, where we can sit at His table dressed in our royal robes washed in the blood of Jesus. The price was not paid to merely release us to seek our independence or to indulge ourselves with the pleasures of this world. We are now free to belong to Him. It is sad, however, when the selfish mind misses this whole truth and insists freedom gives liberty to sin and do what we want to do when we want to do it. For these deluded individuals, eternal life in heaven is more important than being children of God. The idea of a relationship with Jesus holds no value to such people. It is yet another form of indulgence waiting for them in the next life of everlasting bliss. But for the authentic Christian, relationship with Jesus is vital. Possessing the privilege of the position as His child, our persistent pursuit is His divine nature and Christlikeness.

PRAYER
Abba, Father, I am so very privileged to be your child! You have sent the Spirit of Your Son into my heart prompting me to call out, “Abba, Father.” Now I am no longer a slave but Your own child. And since I am Your child, You have made me Your heir. . . . (Gal. 4:6–7)



(excerpts from Desperate Dependency by J. Kirk & Melanie D. Lewis)

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Empowered to Live Beyond Ourselves

CONSIDER
Grace from heaven moves the heart to calm tranquility. When our core needs are addressed, the issue of well-being is resolved, the crisis of the day is settled, the intricacies of interpersonal relations are solved, and the prospect of pleasing God is complete God’s peace pervades. When will that ever happen? When we access God’s grace. There are two access points from which we may qualify to enter into God’s grace. The first is faith, believing what God has said. The second is obedience, doing what God has said. Navigating these pathways will enable the Christian to negotiate all of life’s challenges and experience Jesus Christ as relevant to every area of life.

BIBLE TRUTH

So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding. Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better. (Col. 1:9–10 NLT)

HOW DOES THIS APPLY TO ME?
As surrendered followers of Jesus Christ who live in desperate dependency upon Him, we are empowered by God to live beyond ourselves. The power to live Christ’s life on earth cannot be manufactured by our own efforts. We are not even capable of conceptualizing the process. Human beings on a quest for their own best interest usually resort toward self-indulgence or self-promotion, thinking self-empowerment is somehow the solution to their powerless condition. Seeking within our own strength to create our own grace always leads to some form of illicit dependency, addiction; some inappropriate behavior, deviance; some undesirable state of being, mental illness; or some irreversible consequence, death. Thus grace must come to us not through us. In God’s economy we are the recipients of His grace not the progenitors of it.

PRAYER
God, I must admit I have a difficult time comprehending that You have given me everything I need for living a godly life. But I choose to trust that by Your divine power, You have given us everything we need for living a godly life. . . . (2 Pet. 1:3)


(excerpts from Desperate Dependency by J. Kirk & Melanie D. Lewis)


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User-friendly Grace

CONSIDER
The prospect of God’s unmerited favor giving undeserving people the power to live depends exclusively upon the person of Christ. Jesus provided the way to access God so we can have the power to live the life He lived in the fashion in which He lived it—being dependent upon God. Grace is the catalyst, providing what is needed and furnishing what is lacking to embed the image of Jesus Christ, God’s most precious treasure, on our souls.

BIBLE TRUTH
“May grace and peace be lavished on you as you grow in the rich knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord!” (2 Pet. 1:2 NET)

HOW DOES THIS APPLY TO ME?
God anticipates every challenge, while enabling us through His grace to have the power to live Jesus’ life on earth. All His spiritual, psychological, and interpersonal power that is beyond our comprehension and aptitude is made user-friendly through God’s truth in our lives. We are not required to have a thorough understanding of the inner workings of God’s abilities, nor a profound knowledge of the intricacies of our problems. It is sufficient to know, “I am hurting”; “I am afraid”; or “I am sinking”; and that God is able to rescue me from this present evil world as I desperately depend upon Jesus Christ. A desperate dependency on Jesus reveals God’s abundant power.

PRAYER
Lord, thank You for being close to me, especially when I am brokenhearted. Please rescue those whose spirits are crushed. Thank You for rescuing me when my spirit is crushed. . . . (Ps. 34:18)


(excerpts from Desperate Dependency by J. Kirk & Melanie D. Lewis)


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Graceful Sustainer

CONSIDER
The extent of God’s blessings does not stop with the discovery of the divine treasure of salvation, for within the celestial cavern glows the continuing grace of God through Jesus Christ our Sustainer. Grace, practically understood, is the power to live supplied by God. Jesus literally gives us the capacity to live beyond ourselves. Specifically, He enables us to live beyond our fleshly abilities to be empowered by His divine nature. When our feeble flesh cries, “I can’t do this,” we can reach for His supply of grace and recognize that we do not have to face any issue in life with our meager capabilities.

BIBLE TRUTH

Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ. (Eph 4:11–13 NLT)

HOW DOES THIS APPLY TO ME?
The Scriptures teach that God is actively working to bring His children to completeness and fulfillment. The Christian’s life is abuzz with divine activity. Jesus is constantly involved with His disciples to bring each one to maturity. Grace is the all-encompassing biblical concept used to depict the process that starts with salvation and ends with perfecting us into the image of Jesus Christ.

PRAYER
Lord, I am so grateful that you offer me to call on You when I am in trouble. I know You will rescue Me. In everything I desire to give You glory. . . . (Ps. 50:15)


(excerpts from Desperate Dependency by J. Kirk & Melanie D. Lewis)


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The Crisis of the Cross

CONSIDER
We may agonize as we witness the cruel death Christ suffered. But the anguish of the cross can be intimately observed in the Garden of Gethsemane. “He took Peter and Zebedee’s two sons, James and John, and he became anguished and distressed. He told them, ‘My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me’” (Matt. 26:37–38 NLT).

BIBLE TRUTH

He walked away, about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, “Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” Then an angel from heaven appeared and strengthened him. He prayed more fervently, and he was in such agony of spirit that his sweat fell to the ground like great drops of blood. (Luke 22:41–44 NLT)

HOW DOES THIS APPLY TO ME?
Jesus knew that when He became sin for us, His Father would not be able to be in a relationship with Him for that point in time because God can have no part with sin. The crisis of the cross was that Christ had to face the penalty of sin without God. So glibly we pummel through our day, striving to be independent, inconsiderate of the consequences. But Jesus knew the horror of facing even one minute without a relationship to God. He modeled a life that was totally dependent on God. The trauma of the tragedy was that He willingly sacrificed His relationship with the Father in order to be in a relationship with you and me!

PRAYER
Dearest Savior, who has believed Your message? You were despised and rejected—a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief. But we turned our backs on You and looked the other way. You were despised, and we did not care. Yet it was our weaknesses You carried; it was our sorrows that weighed You down. You were pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. You were beaten so we could be whole. You were whipped so we could be healed. Lord, I don’t want to continue to be like the sheep that stray away. Don’t let me leave Your path to follow my own. Thank you that You paid for the sins of us all. (Isa. 53:1–6)


(excerpts from Desperate Dependency by J. Kirk & Melanie D. Lewis)


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So Much More

CONSIDER
God’s undeserved, limitless grace is available to address the core needs of the soul. Christ offers

Redemption from the
      •Domain of Satan
      •Domination of sin
      •Damnation to hell
      •Dictates of this present evil world

Resolution of
     •Guilt
     •Shame
     •Fear

Restoration to
     •Love
     •Joy
     •Peace

Reconciliation
     •To God
     •Through Jesus
     •By the Holy Spirit


BIBLE TRUTH

Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son. He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins. He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding. (Eph. 1:4–8 NLT)

HOW DOES THIS APPLY TO ME?
Unfortunately, when we consider God’s job in our lives, we think we are merely saved from hell and destined for heaven. But God has provided so much more for us. The salvation Christ offers is not merely for escape from hell, or membership in heaven. Rather, it is an invitation to a relationship with the living God! Through His great and precious promises He enables us to experience abundant life now and an eternal inheritance beyond comprehension.

PRAYER
God, Your grace has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people. Enable me to follow Your instructions to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. Empower me to live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to You, while I look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed. Thank You that Christ gave His life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us His very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds. . . . (Titus 2:11–14)


(excerpts from Desperate Dependency by J. Kirk & Melanie D. Lewis)


We would love for you to POST A COMMENT about the insights you have received on your journey toward desperate dependency.

Born Again to Live Anew

CONSIDER
God looks into our lives and considers the trials and difficulties He foresees will come to us. He has already designed a master plan of how He will navigate us through the maze of trouble to ensure our arrival at His preordained destination. God deals with us right where we are, using the circumstances and problems we face to move us toward the likeness of Christ. God’s dynamic transforming process is set in motion through His grace as we act on His truth.


BIBLE TRUTH

We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy, always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light. For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins. (Col. 1:11–14 NLT)

HOW DOES THIS APPLY TO ME?
God calls His children, and chooses all those who are willing to choose Him. As our Savior He purposed to free us from the bondage of sin that keeps us stuck in the mire. His gracious action was prompted by His eternal desire to be in an intimate relationship with His creation. The resulting freedom and union enables His child to live devoted to God and totally committed to doing good deeds.

PRAYER
God, I am so grateful that You knew Your people in advance. Thank You for choosing me to become like Your Son. In that way Christ will be the first and most honored among many brothers and sisters. . . . (Rom. 8:29)


(excerpts from Desperate Dependency by J. Kirk & Melanie D. Lewis)


We would love for you to POST A COMMENT about the insights you have received on your journey toward desperate dependency.

God Is Our Savior

CONSIDER
God calls us to Himself because He loves us and desires an intimate and personal relationship with us. The righteous work of Jesus Christ provides the opportunity for us to choose salvation that results in communion with God. Jesus Christ pleased the Father by being the acceptable sacrifice in our place. Our sin natures separated us from a relationship with God, but Jesus did everything necessary to make the way for us to come to God. It is His work that makes us acceptable to God, not any particular formula of human design. Erroneously we believe it is our responsibility to appease God and become acceptable to Him. Perhaps we assume that by doing the right thing, saying the right thing, or doing “it” good enough we can gain entrance into a relationship with God.


BIBLE TRUTH

It pleased the Father to provide for our best interest through His redemptive work. All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay. And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see. (1 Peter 1:3–5 NLT)

HOW DOES THIS APPLY TO ME?
The two polar extremes that block dependency on Jesus are “I am not good enough” and “I am good enough.” The reality is that it is not about us—whether we are or are not good enough. It is about Christ and what He has accomplished. When we come to salvation, we are choosing to depend and rely on God in all areas of our lives.

PRAYER
Jesus, I believe that you died for everyone so that those who receive Your new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, You want me to live for You. You died and were raised for me. . . . (2 Cor. 5:15)


(excerpts from Desperate Dependency by J. Kirk & Melanie D. Lewis)


We would love for you to POST A COMMENT about the insights you have received on your journey toward desperate dependency.

What Is God’s Job in My Life?

CONSIDER
A childhood adventure invited us to search for hidden treasures. With coded map in hand we attempted to calculate the incomprehensible wealth that could be obtained if we deciphered all the cryptic symbols. Somewhere along our journey we came to believe that our dreams could be satisfied by God; He would give us everything we wanted if we could just decipher all the cryptic symbols. The good news is that Christ has provided an incomprehensible treasure, but it is a treasure of His design, not necessarily a fulfillment of our wishes.

BIBLE TRUTH
“His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness” (2 Peter 1:3 NASB).

HOW DOES THIS APPLY TO ME?
The work of the cross enables us to inherit the riches of Christ if we accept His work on our behalf. His coffers overflow with abundant provision sufficient for every need as we are being conformed to the image of Jesus Christ. A divine treasure spills over with inexhaustible wealth awaiting acquisition, and as God’s children we are heirs to His vast treasure.

PRAYER
God, thank You for the precious faith I have. I know this faith was given to me because of the justice and fairness of Jesus Christ, our God and Savior. God, please give me more and more grace and peace as I grow in my knowledge of You and Jesus our Lord. I know that by Your divine power, You have given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know You. You are the one who called us by means of Your marvelous glory and excellence. And because of Your glory and excellence, You have given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable us to share Your divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires. . . . (2 Peter 1:1–4)


(excerpts from Desperate Dependency by J. Kirk & Melanie D. Lewis)


We would love for you to POST A COMMENT about the insights you have received on your journey toward desperate dependency.

Psalms 115 Prayer Pattern

This psalm was chosen to provide a model designed by God showing ways we can approach Him in a desperately dependent fashion. Use Psalms Prayer Patterns to pour out your heart to God while acknowledging your weakness and His strength, as you grow deeper in your relationship with Him.

Psalms Prayer Pattern

Not to us, O LORD, not to us,
      but to your name goes all the glory
      for your unfailing love and faithfulness.
Why let the nations say,
      “Where is their God?”
Our God is in the heavens,
      and he does as he wishes.
Their idols are merely things of silver and gold,
      shaped by human hands.
They have mouths but cannot speak,
      and eyes but cannot see.
They have ears but cannot hear,
      and noses but cannot smell.
They have hands but cannot feel,
      and feet but cannot walk,
      and throats but cannot make a sound.
And those who make idols are just like them,
      as are all who trust in them.

O Israel, trust the LORD!
      He is your helper and your shield.
O priests, descendants of Aaron, trust the LORD!
      He is your helper and your shield.
All you who fear the LORD, trust the LORD!
      He is your helper and your shield.

The LORD remembers us and will bless us.
      He will bless the people of Israel
      and bless the priests, the descendants of Aaron.
He will bless those who fear the LORD,
      both great and lowly.

May the LORD richly bless
      both you and your children.
May you be blessed by the LORD,
      who made heaven and earth.
The heavens belong to the LORD,
      but he has given the earth to all humanity.
The dead cannot sing praises to the LORD,
      for they have gone into the silence of the grave.
But we can praise the LORD
      both now and forever!
Praise the LORD!       —Ps. 115 NLT

(excerpts from Desperate Dependency by J. Kirk & Melanie D. Lewis)


We would love for you to share in the COMMENTS the insights you have received on your journey.

Christ Is Relevant to Intimacy

The holiday season brings wishes of intimate gatherings and romantic gift exchanges. Do you struggle with intimacy? When you think of the word “intimacy” is a three-letter word the first and only thing that comes to your mind? God designed us to be intimate beings as our connection with others reflects His connection with us.

Intimacy is the concert of souls in communion with God as they connect within the context of God’s plan to achieve God’s purpose with each other. From the very beginning God created man as an intimate being representative of Himself.

Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. (Gen. 1:26–27 ESV)

“Then the LORD God said, ‘It is not good that the man should be alone…’” (Gen. 2:18 ESV). According to Theological Word Book of the Old Testament, the core concept is that it was not good for man “to be separate and isolated.” God created man to associate with all the beasts of the field but he could only be intimate with those of his own essence. Some have taken this passage to justify relational dependency, giving credence to a Christian hybrid of enmeshment between husband and wife in place of intimacy. “I will make him a helper fit for him” (Gen. 2:18 ESV) does not translate into man becoming complete because of the marriage relationship, rather that through marital companionship God would spawn into being the human race.

Marital companionship is certainly a fit context for interpersonal intimacy, but it is not capable of producing personal completion, nor was it ever designed for such a task. Note what happened between man and women as they disconnected from a primary intimacy with God.

At that moment their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness. So they sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves. When the cool evening breezes were blowing, the man and his wife heard the LORD God walking about in the garden. So they hid from the LORD God among the trees. Then the LORD God called to the man, “Where are you?” He replied, “I heard you walking in the garden, so I hid. I was afraid because I was naked.” “Who told you that you were naked?” the LORD God asked. “Have you eaten from the tree whose fruit I commanded you not to eat?” The man replied, “It was the woman you gave me who gave me the fruit, and I ate it.” Then the LORD God asked the woman, “What have you done?” “The serpent deceived me,” she replied. “That’s why I ate it.” (Gen. 3:7–13 NIV).

Here is a summary of the impact Adam and Eve instigated when seeking completion apart from God:

•Shame in response to exposure and vulnerability
•Compulsion to avoid being transparent
•Compulsion to hide from God
•Reverence for God changed into a fear of God
•Primary communion with God became a prime contempt for God
•Companionship was forfeited for control
•Adam compelled to blame Eve
•Eve compelled to rule over Adam

The abiding experience of intimacy was exchanged for a continuous effort to control intimacy, as intimacy now came to be seen as dangerous, something to be exploited and managed. The compulsion to connect was lost to a determination to govern through the dictates of selfish ambition.

Selfish ambition is the great enemy of intimacy. Most when considering the need for intimacy conceptualize it as getting for oneself something they do not have in order to make them more than they are. The anticipation of getting eclipses the notion of giving to another. Few people view the construct of intimacy as oneness experienced within a context of mutual sharing.

Selfish ambition undermines intimacy through the process of seeking one’s own interest at the expense of achieving relational connectedness. Selfish ambition also works to relieve obligation to relational loyalties, while fostering independence from any real bond to the relationship. Relational independence is an unhealthy condition whereby self-centeredness is heightened sponsoring self-absorption as well as vain conceit. The ideal of giving to another has been replaced by the idea of gaining for oneself.

God created mankind to live within a divine matrix where all relationships would be mediated by a primary connection with Himself that would lord preeminently over all other relationships. Therefore all intimacy must work through a relational hierarchy whereby Jesus is the central focus. Intimacy with Christ meets all essential needs producing completion and balance within the soul setting into motion by means of homeostasis, a congruent condition within one’s soul, brain, and body. This way the entire individual is brought into balance through their spiritual condition. This is the very reason Solomon could make the link between one’s trust in God and their subsequent physical health.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all you ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD, and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones. (Prov. 3:5–8 ESV)

My son, be attentive to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. Let them not escape from your sight; keep them within your heart. For they are life to those who find them, and healing to all their flesh. Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. (Prov. 4:20–23 ESV)

Intimacy with Christ addresses the issues of the heart validated by God’s love whereby the Christian’s identity is made complete. It is then established that we are lovable, significant, and secure. This God-centered identity leads to fulfillment in Jesus that tempers all our motives and predisposes all other relationships to a holy balance. Relational equilibrium between God and all else is made possible with Christ having created within our souls a proper perspective on the priority that should be given to relationships within our lives, and the preeminence that needs to be given to God.

We are given wisdom and spiritual understanding by the Holy Spirit as we are brought to know God’s heart, mind, and will. The Spirit of God shows us how we are to live among people while finding Christ relevant to every area of our lives, as opposed to exploiting people, positions, and possessions. Jesus is made relevant to intimacy when we establish who and what we are based on our identity solidified in Christ’s truth, which in turn brings us to encounter oneness with Him.

Insight Journal
I reflect Christ’s intimacy with me when I …

The Truth of Relating to Christ

What does it really mean to have a relationship with Jesus? Most at this point are stymied by the inability to objectify the reality that exists between them and Christ. Many seek to answer the question with canned sayings holding little or no actual meaning. “Well, I trust Him,” or “I try to do the best I can to please Him.” Others venture more deeply into the platitudes with, “I know that I walk with God because I pray and read my Bible all the time and I know He answers my prayers.” How could one argue with such a display of religious piety? Yet it still does not answer the question that we are tendering. What does it really mean to have a relationship with Jesus? Let us not forget that God is faithful to us even when we are not faithful to Him. Thus His apparent answers to our prayers are not actually an indication of our faithfulness, but rather is a testament to His faithfulness to us. “If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful, for he cannot deny who he is” (2 Tim. 2:13 NLT).

We must first understand that whatever a relationship with Jesus comprises, it is that which has been given to us by God through His grace and not that which is created by force of our own human effort. Notice when people speak of their relationship with Jesus that it is usually couched in an ideology of what they are doing and affording for themselves. Such actions cited often encompass reading the Bible, praying, church attendance, service, witnessing, mission projects, etc.

Stop for a moment and evaluate. How is my Christianity being evidenced through the divine manifestation of Christ in my life? Can one who is not even a believer practice my version of Christianity? Conceivably can the unbeliever go to church, pray, read the Bible, offer service, share the Gospel, and participate in a mission project? Quite obviously, given that many have come forward to confess being a lost church member while having done such things for years. The Scripture records in John’s gospel,

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth….. For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known. (John 1:14-18 ESV)

The force of the prepositional phrase “grace upon grace” emphasizes grace being given for the purpose of promoting grace. Grace had to create the means by which grace could come. Hence grace propagating grace. Therefore John asserts, “of His fullness have we received” for Christ did all through grace. Christ through His grace established the foundation for which the operation of grace could accomplish God's good pleasure. Grace could not achieve in function what it did not possess in form. Thus, grace could not accomplish the holy purpose of God apart from first eliciting the just approval of God upon its proposed operation. The proposed gospel of grace effecting salvation could have not arbitrarily come by merely any sacrificial means.

Salvation could have only come through a just acceptable sacrifice. Grace therefore had to proceed upon the grounds of God's holy decrees, meeting God's righteous demands, satisfying God's just indictments, while propagating through grace God's goodness. All before the goal of grace could be truly actualized in Jesus Christ through the gospel of peace.

Relative to our initial question, Paul’s epistle teaches, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast” (Eph. 2:8 ESV). Here it is clear that we are saved by the construct called faith. So what does it mean to have faith? Is faith operationalized through a prayer? Some religions claim to embrace faith through the ceremony of baptism. Yet, others say faith is expressed through the sacraments. Religion is not without a short list of pious decorum depicting the exercise of faith ranging from observing dietary laws to striving to be good.

The exercise of faith is not delimited by an act or event as in something that we do. Rather it is characterized by covenant making confidence in the atoning action of Christ, in response to His invitation for us to come to Him. Through His redemptive efforts Jesus pleased the Father's holiness on our behalf. The word faith in Ephesians 2:8 is used as a genitive of means signifying that salvation is embraced by the avenue of faith, as if faith were a doorway leading into the divine court of the throne room of God. Faith in this verse is not about our personally possessing enough faith but rather traveling the road of faith as directed by God for us to tread on. Thus, one is either in faith or not. To assign amount and quality is to personalize the creation of your faith versus embracing personally that construct of faith provided by God. The exercise of faith is following as from the Lord in the way He is leading us to follow Him.

Otherwise faith, upon our having to create and possess a particular quality or quantity of it would in fact become a works salvation. For by the essence of our faith we would have been saved rather than being saved by the grace afforded by Christ. Would not this give us reason to boast? Therefore, faith above all is a confident hope in Christ that engenders a desperate dependency upon Him. “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” (Heb. 11:1 ESV).

Faith is not confidence in a prayer or any other pious act. It is an earnest expectation based in believing Christ's gospel truth. Faith is resting in the efforts of Jesus to please the Father’s holiness and thereby reconciling us to Him.

Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it. For good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened. For we who have believed enter that rest. (Heb. 4:1–3 ESV)

Faith believes what the Bible asserts as true concerning God, ourselves, and the remedy applied through the shedding of Christ’s blood connecting us relationally to the Father.

Insight Journal
• How is my Christianity being evidenced through the divine manifestation of Christ in my life?
• What evidence is there in my life that I am a Christian?
• Do I seek to propagate my carnal version of Christianity in hopes of passing it off as authentic?

I Lost Trust

I remember the very day when trust departed from my [Kirk] life. It was the first day of spring when I was 4 years old. For a long time my father had been promising to build a house for us. Our house was a cement shell with rough cement floors, cinder block walls, and room dividers. We had no running water or bathroom. We were dependent on two wood burning fireplaces to keep us warm in winter. When it rained there were three leaks over my bed and five leaks altogether in the bedroom that was shared with my two brothers plus Mama and Dad too. Many a night we awoke to rain soaked quilts. Interestingly, it was quite comforting to return to sleep with the dripping sounds of five pans catching water.

From my description you may think I grew up in 1920’s – 1930’s. Our living conditions were substandard even in rural North Carolina for the 1960’s. For some time Dad had been responding to my questions about moving with, “Well, Erk,” (this is what Dad called me) “in the spring we will build a house and move over to the land.” “The land” was a five-acre plot that somehow my mother was able to buy and retain amid my father’s continuous drinking and gambling. With Dad’s comforting refrain consoling my heart, I would run off with thoughts of a better tomorrow when we would move into our new house – a home with heat, a roof that did not leak, and maybe even carpet. This hope kept me a bit warmer as the damp winter lumbered long with its cold.

Finally, winter gave way to the impending joy of fairer days. One morning I awoke to the most beautiful day I could ever remember. It was the kind of morning that made you feel good on the inside. I sprang from my bed and ran outside to commence an intense day of play and mischievous gallivanting. I recalled running into the house almost plowing into Mama, who asked me why I was so happy. I said, “I feel good today!”

“Well honey, it’s the first day of spring and we all feel good because it is such a pretty day.”

“It’s spring!” I screamed with anticipation that had come to fulfillment. I ran through the house telling everyone to get their stuff because today was moving day!

Mama chased me through the house, confused and somewhat amused with my flight of fancy. She grabbed me while saying, “What are you talking about?”

“Mama, it’s spring and it’s time to move to our new house over at the land!”

Mama quickly retorted, “What house? There is no house at the land.” Mama by this time had grown concerned and was on her knees making eye contact with me and holding me by the shoulders quite firmly.

“Mama,” I replied, “Dad said that in the spring he would build us a house and we would move. It’s spring, so let’s go!”

“Honey, your dad has not built the house yet.”

I remember not being dissuaded by such a sentiment. “So it’s not done yet,” I conceded.

Mama began to recognize the implications of my beliefs. She asserted very directly to me, “Kirk, there is no house. Your dad has not built a house and that is all there is to this. We are not moving!”

All that was previously wonderful changed to the hue of awful. I was incensed to the point of rage. I yelled at Mama, pushing her backwards. “You are lying! My dad can do anything!”

I ran out the front door to where my dad was talking to his drinking buddy, Larry. I could not contain myself so I got in between them vying desperately for Dad’s attention. Dad was too busy looking at Larry’s new Harley, which probably was purchased with all the money my dad lost at Larry’s house gambling on cards, chicken fights, and dogfights. I could no longer wait, so I blurted out, “Dad, today is moving day! Let’s go and pack so we can move to the land!”

I remember Dad being bewildered and annoyed. “What are you talking about little Erk?”

“You said that when spring came we would move, and today is the first day of spring, so let’s go Dad!”

By this time Dad was not only annoyed but also angry that I had interrupted him and embarrassed him by pointing out the fact that he made promises he had no intention of keeping.

Dad pushed me aside. “Can’t you see I’m talking? We are not moving. I have not even cleared the land, and I have not built the house! We are not going anywhere, so leave me alone and quit bothering me!”

I was crushed. I learned that day that the man I thought was so great was a consummate liar. This was the first of many such occasions where I caught my dad lying until the day that he finally left and never came back.

But what I lost that day was more than my relationship with my dad. I lost the willingness to trust. I remember so vividly believing with complete confidence that my dad could have done anything. In my innocent mind it would have been no big deal for him to clear the land, build the house, and move us into it – all in three short hours.

This human example illustrates the influence of trust. Even when trust is misplaced it exerts a certain power on life that provides hope even when believing in a lie. We choose where to place our firm belief in the reliability, truth, ability, or strength of someone or something. Throughout life we look to our objects of trust to provide security. Disillusioned we stumble into the pit and believe we can trust no one but ourselves. The harm befalls us when we develop a heart that is not willing to trust in anything beyond ourselves and what we can control through our own efforts. In our feeble attempts to be the god of our own lives, we miss an intimate connection with the Father who is worthy of trust.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths. (Prov. 3:5–6 NKJV)

Insight Journal
Children see God as relevant because they can trust that there is someone bigger who knows the best way to make things work out. When did I lose that concept of God?

Do You Need A Spanking?

Have you noticed a growing trend that people tend to broker only in those commodities of God that provide instant return – love, grace, mercy, forgiveness? Rarely does anyone equally welcome His moral attributes that cause us to flee into the rocks in fear of His holy presence. Relating to God demands that we have a holy reverence for Him that moves each one of us as His children to value God with all our soul’s ability. Only through encountering the total of God’s moral nature are we given the ability to form a proper response that is remotely worthy of Him. Embracing God’s truth, justice, righteousness, goodness, and holiness are the only means by which we as hopeless sinful individuals will ever appreciate Christ’s love, grace, and mercy. Only with this godly perspective can we run to Him for forgiveness when we are faced with the fear of wrath or discipline.

The wrath to come is God’s judgment, condemnation upon the children of “disobedience,” upon those who are outside of Christ’s redemptive grace. Paul admonishes the Roman Christians to note that “it is because of these things that the wrath of God will come upon the sons of disobedience” (Col. 3:6 NASB). Paul continues to assert, “the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness” (Rom. 1:18 NASB). While chastisement is God’s loving discipline upon His errant children, “My son, do not scorn the Lord’s discipline or give up when he corrects you. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves and chastises every son he accepts” (Heb. 12:5–6 NET).

Many possess a distorted view of God’s holiness while wrongly assuming that His love, grace, and mercy somehow stay the hand of His holiness, justice, and righteousness. God is hence presented as one who “winks at sin” and is portrayed as an indulgent parent. Such teaching betrays the essence of God’s moral nature and does little more than encourage sinners to believe they are saints and saints to living little better than sinners.

The truth is God has established holiness as the moral standard by which to enter into fellowship with Him.

This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. (1 John 1:5–7 ESV)

The problem is that apart from Jesus’ redemptive care, administered to us through His gospel applied to our souls by His Holy Spirit and actualized within our lives by His divine unction, we are incapable of connecting to God. A desperate dependence upon the grace of Christ forms the foundation for relating intimately to Him in relational communion.

If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. (1John 1:8–2:2 ESV)

As our advocate Christ intercedes on our behalf before the Father because He has pleased the Father through His sacrificial death on the cross. The Bible sets forth that “in Christ all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross” (Col. 1:19–20 ESV).

As our heavenly parent, Christ chastens His children so as to bestow upon us His holy heart.

It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. (Heb. 12:7–11 ESV)

Perhaps the most frequently chastened sin in Scripture is the issue of unbelief, when God’s children murmured against Him and /or moved away from Him to God-substitutes thereby committing idolatry. Is this not still the pattern that is most seen among Christians today? Christians attempt to place God on notice that He has not pleased them. Protest follows as they seek a God-substitute to foster having their own way.

God, as in the Old Testament, chastens His children that they might learn to trust Him.

Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed. Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled; that no one is sexually immoral or unholy like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal. For you know that afterward, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent, though he sought it with tears. (Heb. 12:12–17 ESV)

God has no higher concern and espouses no greater agenda than to promote Jesus as preeminent within our lives. Thus His grace is dedicated to this mission. Grace cannot be manipulated or exploited to achieve our own selfish ambition, nor will it be subservient to our vain conceit. Grace resides securely within the heart and mind of God, having no other master, and can be wielded by none other than His hand.

Insight Journal
I need to ask for forgiveness from God because I wanted God to serve me on my terms when…

(excerpts included from Desperate Dependency by J. Kirk & Melanie D. Lewis)

Christ Is Relevant to Unity

Oneness with Jesus produces unity with each other.

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace (Ephesians 4:1 – 3 ESV).

What does it mean to be eager? We anticipate with delight a good many things; Chocolate, bicycling, camping, time with our children, and the list may go on and on. But how many of us can really say that at the top of our list is an eagerness to keep the "unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace"? Some are too busy creating disunity within the body of Christ, therefore the thought of maintaining unity is lost to the almost good intention which slightly emerged somewhere between “I ought to…” and “I should…” and “maybe next time.” The sad truth is that being “eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” is not part of our daily agenda.

The admonition however is clear; we are to be eager to keep the peace that has been committed to us by the Holy Spirit of God. Unity serves as the benchmark of our divine kinship. To be one with Christ is to be one with all Christ represents, and with all who are one with Him.

The issue of unity is so essential and implicit to Jesus that wherever unity is found, there you will also find Christ in the midst of it. Union with Christ, as evidenced by the traits of such a connection (the Epistle of 1 John delimits these traits), becomes the foundation for all fellowship within the body of Christ and is the litmus test for anyone claiming to be Christ's follower.

This notion of being unified in the Spirit, with all that Christ represents, is completely fulfilled in possessing the love of Christ within our hearts and expressing the love of Christ to others. See 1 Corinthians 13:1 – 3 and 1 John 4:7 – 21.

Oneness with Jesus compels us to connect to each other.
What compels someone to possess an earnest desire to be a steward charged with maintaining the health and welfare of unity? To be the keeper of the light that has been lit by the Holy Spirit? Would it not be that very Spirit that lives within us that moves us into a concerted oneness with each other?

Unity and union are elements comprising intimacy afforded by a common identity while establishing family connection. Unity (the state of being one) is the process producing the condition of our union (the state of being united). Unity is what God is achieving through oneness within the hearts of His children, while union is the resulting condition being established between His children within His Spirit. Unity and union are not merely synonyms but rather are various dimensions of the relational matrix. Unity is caused by oneness with Christ compelling the condition of union to exist between His children.

Oneness with Jesus prompts a sharing of our unified faith with each other.
The issue now is how do we enter into oneness? The answer is that we must have a unifying identity (being in Christ), leading to an unbreakable intimacy (being of Christ) motivating a uniform industry (being compelled by Christ).

The prepositional phrase “of the Spirit” is genitive in case and is certifying that this unity has originated from God's Holy Spirit and is given by the redemptive process of grace, bestowed by the sacrificial blood of Jesus Christ. It is He who is working within and between the children of God bringing all His children into the unity of the faith.

So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ (Eph. 4:11–13 NIV).

Unity possesses a very unique and distinct signature. Peace is the bond offering proof of who we are in Christ and to whom we belong. Peace asserts that we are children of God birthed by the Bride of Christ – the Church.

Peace is the evidence of those who are dependent on Christ to provide the ability to cope with the problems, pain, and perplexities of living. In the midst of conflict we can experience the absence of fear, dread, and impending doom as we rest in the presence of His safety, tranquility, and contentment. A continuous relationship with Jesus Christ overflows with peace that comes from entrusting every struggle to Him. There is strength in knowing that while all around us is in flux and failure, Jesus provides a spiritual stability beyond the normal boundaries of this existence. We experience peace in the presence of finding Christ relevant to our situation even when we cannot be in control.

You will keep in perfect peace
      all who trust in you,
      all whose thoughts are fixed on you!
Trust in the LORD always,
      for the LORD GOD is the eternal Rock” (Isa. 26:3–4 NLT).

Our relationship with each other is to draw directly from the well of Christ and to drink inter-personally of the water of everlasting life. As we are with God through Christ Jesus—at peace, we are to be with each other—“in the bond (or ties) of peace.” With identity establishing intimacy, peace in this context, now compels the family of God to the industry of sharing their intimacy with each other—sharing with one another the peace that has been received from their bond with Christ that now has become the bond between them. Being reconciled with God results in possessing a bond with our brothers and sisters in Christ, as those whom have been reconciled through Christ to God. Being at peace with Him is now what people of faith have in common. It is our bond—the shared uniqueness that is therefore shared between us.

Insight Journal
1. Based on my behavior, do I value keeping the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace?
2. Does my life demonstrate oneness with Jesus and unity with my Christian siblings?
3. Do I possess the bond of peace with Christ and in my relationships with others?


(excerpts from Desperate Dependency by J. Kirk & Melanie D. Lewis)

Evidences of Humility

5 You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.
6 Though he was God,
      he did not think of equality with God
      as something to cling to.
7 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges;
      he took the humble position of a slave
      and was born as a human being.
When he appeared in human form,
      8 he humbled himself in obedience to God
      and died a criminal’s death on a cross. (Phil. 2:5 – 8 NLT)

Jesus, who is our unparalleled example of humility, while upon earth literally could have been the embodiment of a super hero or the alien from another world with supreme power. He could have wowed the populace and wooed the noble into following Him. Jesus could have been the conqueror of the world.

With His infinite knowledge and authority over the elements He could have ushered in the generation of technology with His unfathomable wisdom. He could have established colleges and schools of philosophy. Jesus was in a strategic position to be the ultimate human. None of which, however, would have saved the souls of humankind from our sins.

Jesus instead chose to make “Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross” (Phil. 2:6 – 8 NJKV).

Jesus chose to be our Savior, submitting perfectly and specifically to the will of His Father. He asserted, “I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me” (John 5:30 ESV).

Humility is understanding that your life is not you own, for it has been given by God and is to be directed at His will. See 1 Corinthians 6:12 – 20.

Humility is based in trusting God who loves you and will work all things for His glory and your well-being. See 2 Corinthians 4:7 – 10.

Humility submits your soul to Christ because His blood has purchased it; and therefore, humility realizes that your life is to be spent for His pleasure. See Romans 12:1 – 2.

Humility empties your soul of self concerning any notion that you have rights that entitle you to preferential treatment over another person. See Philippians 2:3 – 4.

Humility is the attitude of the soul when you have removed from your heart any assertion that promotes self-interest over God's will, and is devoid of any resistance that asserts itself against God's purpose. See Philippians 2:5 – 10.

Humility is the soul finding Jesus relevant to every area of life. The humble waits dependently for Christ seeking to “live out your salvation to its full potential with fear and trembling.” See Philippians 2:11 – 12.

Humility is predicated upon the premise that God has the sovereign right to order your steps in any manner that pleases His holy purpose. See Isaiah 45:9, 11 – 12.

Humility is not simply a disposition or an attitude fostered by an attempt to subdue self. Rather humility is a condition of soul shaped into the image of Jesus through the dynamics facilitated by the Holy Spirit. See Galatians 5:16 – 25.

The Holy Spirit, as He leads us to encounter truth, to believe truth, to be traumatized by truth, and to enter into the brokenness fostered by truth, transforms us into a divine person submissive and obedient to His will. Being therefore willing to give up our willfulness, humility becomes the quintessential [representing the most perfect or typical example of a quality or class] essence and manifest state of brokenness.

With these evidences of humility in mind, would you characterize yourself as a humble person?


Insight Journal
In what ways does my life evidence humility?
In what ways does my life NOT evidence humility?

How Can I Be Humble?

“I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility…” Eph. 4:1-2 ESV.

Do you have the tendency to defend, promote, or preserve yourself? Do you strive to be seen in the best possible light? Do you always want to be right and viewed as successful? The extent to which you engage in promoting your self is the evidence that you are lacking in humility.

When confronted with sin, the human condition seeks to respond by excusing the issue of sin or explaining the episode surrounding the sin, all for the purpose of escaping any exposure to sin. Selfish ambition and vain conceit are pervasive within our normal course of life, creating such a condition of heart where humility is a rarity. Humility as a construct has been so marred by self-centered intent that its meaning within our culture is obscure.

To prove this point, simply ask anyone to define humility. The response you may anticipate will be a very blank look followed by a random attempt to provide an answer. Most of the answers will be from previously heard sermons articulated without personal experience with what is being tendered. The reality will become obvious that humility is not apart of our social norm.

Christians today substitute humility for a pretense of being right. Thus within a conflict the modern day Christian seeks how they may best promote themselves while posturing to look the most righteous within the conflict. Therefore eliminating the need to be humble for being right. Such a demeanor concerning humility would demonstrate how far from the true meaning of meekness we have strayed.

There is a chasm between our theology and how we treat others, between our doctrinal faith and our deployment of our faith, between our position in Christ and our practice of Christianity. To appreciate this expanse, just consider that anything not done in love is preformed through selfish ambition. To understand the potency of this point simply read the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:1 – 7:29). Here you will be shown by Christ the nature of the issue. Consider the Beatitudes as a sample.

And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:
      “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
      “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
      “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
      “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
      “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
      “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
      “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
      “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
      “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. (Matt. 5:2 – 11 ESV)

Humility is all about what I am not. One who possesses the virtue of humility discerns from within their soul, that they bring nothing to God so as to increase Him. Additionally they know that they add nothing to God so as to enhance Him. Therefore, bringing nothing to God nor adding anything to God, the humble of heart grasp that they stand before God only by the love of His redeeming grace. Humility leads the broken to understand that only by divine enablement can personal empowerment be embraced.

Pride while bringing honor, praise, and exaltation to self asserts with pious tone, "I want to do great things for God or I want God to do great things through me." Pride misses the point completely for being emerged in the pursuit of greatness—only God is great, and apart from His enabling grace and the perfecting work of Jesus Christ we are incapable of industry for God.

Industry, compelled by our intimacy with God, prompts us within our service to glorify God, to edify God's people, and to solidify God's will on earth. There is no room for self to glory in what self has done. Nor is there time for self to bask in the residual effects of accomplishment, whereby one is validated to feeling significant and secure. Humility proclaims that self has nothing to contribute.

The two polar extremes that block dependency on Jesus are “I am not good enough” and “I am good enough.” The reality is that it is not about us—whether we are or are not good enough. It is about Christ and what He has accomplished.

Insight Journal
1. When do I try to defend, promote, or preserve myself?
2. How do I define humility?
3. Do I agree with the statement that anything not done in love is preformed through selfish ambition?

(excerpts from Desperate Dependency by J. Kirk & Melanie D. Lewis)