Teach Us To Pray

One of the things that we are commanded to do in Scripture is to pray. We all know that prayer is important, but I think that probably many of us struggle with how to pray. One of Christ's own disciples struggled with this as well. In fact, he asked Jesus to teach him to pray.

Now it came to pass, as He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, that one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.” So He said to them, “When you pray, say: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us day by day our daily bread and forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.” - Luke 11:1-4

Now I'm sure that Jesus gave this teaching many times throughout his ministry travels as He taught from village to village. In fact, we find a separate instance in the book of Matthew when Jesus gave this same teaching during the Sermon on the Mount.

"And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him."

"In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. Do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen" - Matthew 6:9-13

I grew up playing sports. And I can't tell you how many times we would kneel before a game and say the Lord's Prayer. We all knew it but I doubt any of us could explain what it meant. I've heard this prayer repeated over and over at different functions and gatherings throughout my life. It's sad that the very thing we were told not to do - to use vain repetitions - we have somehow taken the Lord's Prayer and made it into exactly that.

This prayer was never meant to be a mantra - it was meant to be a model. That's why it's important that we really look at it and see what we should be praying for. When I look at it, this is what I see (in my own words):

Holy Father,
I want your will to be done in my life.
Meet my daily needs.
Forgive my sins as I forgive those who have sinned against me.
Lead me away from temptation, and deliver me from the evil one when I fall into it.
For it's all about You, not me.

The other morning in Sunday School we were discussing our lives and how we tend to really pray only when we get in trouble. We pray that God would eliminate things that cause us discomfort like sickness, money troubles, family troubles, etc.. Now don't get me wrong; if I get in trouble in anyway I'm going to pray. The Apostle James put it this way:

Is any among you afflicted? Let him pray. - James 5:13

But the funny thing is that I don't see anything in the Lord's prayer about health, wealth, prosperity, a good job or a trouble-free life. In fact It's a pretty simple prayer when you really look at it. The only thing in there about "material" things is asking God to meet our daily needs.
The Apostle James tells us that the problem with our prayers is that we are asking for the wrong things.

You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. - James 4:3

When I investigate my own prayer life, I find that it revolves around me. What we need to understand is that prayer - true prayer - is about His kingdom, His power and His glory.

If You Love Me

Saturday was a long day. We had our baseball fundraiser at the Rec Park and we were out there all day long. Sunday we went to church and then out to eat afterward. I had to be back at the church at 6:00 pm so as you can imagine, afterwards all I wanted to was get to the house and take a nap. I was only about 4 or 5 miles from the house. That's when I saw them. Two women on the side of road holding up a sign: "Need gas - trying to get home."

I'm sure you've all been there. You've got other things on your mind, things to do and places to go. You really don't want to stop. You know you should - but you don't want to. And that's when the internal struggle begins.

"Somebody else will help them."

"They'll probably do something else with the money."

"How could they let themselves get in that position, anyway?"

I drove at least 2 or 3 miles past them, arguing with myself before I decided to turn around. I went back and offered to fill their tank up if they drove just up the road to the gas station. As it turned out, they were completely out of gas and someone had already left to go and get a gas tank to bring them some gas. I gave them some money and left.

Now before you think I did anything worthwhile, let me just tell you that even when I went back - I didn't want to. Everything in me wanted to just go home. So what made me turn around and go back? With all that arguing with myself, one thing kept coming to my mind.

"If you love me, keep my commandments."

Why did I go back? I went back because I love Him. Did I feel "loving"? No, I didn't. Did I feel compassion for them? No, I'm sorry to say that I didn't. I want to be more compassionate. I want to be more loving. And I believe that if I continue to "put on Christ Jesus", continue to obey His commandments, continue to "walk as He walked", that in time I will become more and more like Him. But until then I'll still try and obey even when I don't feel like it. Because that's what love is.

For I was hungry, and you gave me meat: I was thirsty, and you gave me drink: I was a stranger, and you took me in: Naked, and you clothed me: I was sick, and you visited me: I was in prison, and you came unto me. - Matthew 25:35-36

P.S. I almost didn't write this blog because I thought it might come off as self-serving - a kind of "look what I did". I hope it didn't come across that way. In fact, I didn't feel good about myself at all. What kind of person goes by two women on the road and then has to drive miles past them before turning around and then coming back? I'm reminded of the lyrics of a song by D.C. Talk.

"What's going on inside me,

I despise my own behavior.

It only serves to confirm my suspicions

That I'm still a man in need of a Savior."

It Is Written

Awhile back I was reading in the Gospels about the temptation of Jesus. As I read, I was once again struck by the fact of how Jesus used the Scriptures to defend Himself against that attack. He didn't answer Satan with His own thoughts or His own beliefs or His own ideas - He only quoted the pure and undefiled Word of God. For Him, the Scripture was sufficient.

And the devil said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.”

But Jesus answered him, saying, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.’” *

* Quoting Deuteronomy 8:3

And the devil said to Him, “All this authority I will give You, and their glory; for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. Therefore, if You will worship before me, all will be Yours.”

And Jesus answered and said to him, “Get behind Me, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve.’” *

* Quoting Deuteronomy 6:13

Then he brought Him to Jerusalem, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down from here. For it is written: ‘He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you', and, ‘In their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone.’”

And Jesus answered and said to him, “It has been said, ‘You shall not tempt the LORD your God.’” *

Quoting Deuteronomy 6:16.

A few weeks ago I was listening to a sermon on the teachings of the Catholic Mass. This was a subject I had always been interested in because I wasn't really clear on the differences in beliefs between Catholics and Protestants regarding the Lord's Supper. As I studied, I also looked into other belief systems as well such as Mormonism and Jehovah's Witnesses. What became clear to me as I delved deeper was that they all had something in common with each other - they all believed in revelation beyond Scripture. They say they believe in the Bible, but they all have teachings or writings that they consider equal to the Bible or in some cases, revere even above the Bible. Or to put it another way - the Scriptures are not sufficient for them.

It seems to me that the biggest temptation of every generation is to veer away from Scripture - to add a little bit to it or take a little bit away from it. That is a dangerous game to play. One generation may add a little here, while another generation takes a little from there. After awhile, Scripture becomes unrecognizable. We like to think that this only occurs in cults and other religions, but turn on your Christian television station any night and watch a few of the health and wealth teachers. It is a travesty what is being done to Scripture in the name of Christ.

Even when people are well meaning, it still cannot be allowed to happen. Not too long ago I was having an email exchange with a friend of mine who is a Christian. My disagreement with him had nothing to do with his actions - the things he is doing are good things and are to be applauded. My disagreement was with the fact that I felt he was misusing Scripture in order to validate those good things he was doing. That can't be allowed to happen.

Scripture is not like Play-Doh. I can't mold it to fit my beliefs. It's the other way around - I have to mold my beliefs to fit Scripture. Scripture is like a diamond that's been passed down and it's each generation's responsibility to keep it pure and clean. It is our guide and our standard. It is the absolute truth by which we direct our lives. If it gets corrupted then we are lost. Trying to live with a corrupted standard as your guide is like trying to put something together with the wrong instructions.

Here's my point. It is easy for us to look at others - other religions or cults or even other Christians - and say 'Look how they are twisting the Scripture'. But if we are not careful, we'll do the same thing in our own life. We'll try and make Scripture fit our traditions by adding to it or twisting it or reading something into it that it doesn't really say. I know - I've done it.

Do we really believe that Scripture is sufficient? Most of us would probably answer in the affirmative. So here's a little food for thought.

- If your marriage is in trouble, where would you go? To the Bible or the latest best-seller in the Christian bookstore?

- If your finances are out of order, where would you go? To the Bible or the latest seminar?

- If your addiction is killing you, where would you go? To the Bible or the latest self-help group?

- If you need guidance, where would you go? To the Bible or to the world famous evangelist on the Christian television program?

Don't get me wrong. I'm not necessarily saying that books or seminars or group meetings are bad. I am saying they don't have the answers. The truth is found in the Word and only in the Word.

Do you believe that? Do you believe that the Word and It alone is sufficient for everything we need? I do. I believe that everything I need for guidance and direction is there. I believe that everything I need to know of how to be a godly man, a good husband and father is there. I believe the ability to love others is there. I believe that the way to eternal life is found there. I believe it is all sufficient - I believe perfection can be found there and only there.

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. - 2 Timothy 3:16-17

My Purpose

What is my purpose? That is a question I'm sure we all - Christians and non-Christians alike - ask ourselves from time to time. We want to make sure the lives we live are worthwhile, and part of that is knowing what our purpose here on earth really is.

As Christians, the question is even more important for us. We want to do the will of the Father, to walk in obedience to Him. As such, many of us worry and agonize over figuring out what the will of God is for our lives - what our purpose is in His plan.

I like things simple, so here's what I think stated as simply as possible - our purpose is to be like Christ. That's it. That is the sum and total of Christianity. To walk like Him, talk like Him and act like Him. In every way, in every aspect of our lives, to put on His character.

He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked. - 1 John 2:6

But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts. - Romans 13:14

I was speaking with a friend of mine a week or so ago. He was saved several years ago and was told by some that he was destined to be a preacher, while others told him he was destined to be a teacher or a prophet. You name it and it was probably laid on his shoulders. I know that he struggled with those expectations. As we were discussing this subject - that our only purpose is to be like Christ - he said to me " I wish someone had told me that six years ago".

As I was speaking with him I was reminded of the story in the Scriptures (John 6) where the people asked Jesus a question:

Then they said to Him, “What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?”

That's just like us, isn't it? We always seem to focus on the results - the works. If we're not careful, we'll get so caught up in our own and others expectations for our life that we'll miss what's really important. We'll put pressure on ourselves to fulfill those expectations and miss what it is that Christ really wants us to do. That's why I like this story so much, because Jesus' answer takes the pressure off.

Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.”

Just believe. Just focus on Him. Everything else will come as a result of that in His good time.

Are There Few Who Are Saved?

I've always been fascinated by the questions that people asked Jesus. What an opportunity - to be able to ask the Creator of the Universe any question that you want! Some tried to trick Him, others didn't understand Him, but there were some very sincere questions as well. One such question that was asked of Jesus has especially fascinated me.

According to Luke, it happened early in the week of His passion, as he was journeying on His way to Jerusalem. As He went through the cities and villages teaching, a certain man asked Him a question.

"Lord, are there few who are saved?”

Who was this man who asked the question and what were his reasons? The Scriptures don't give us this information, but what an astute question it was. What is fascinating to me is the answer. To put it bluntly, the answer is shocking.

“Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able."

The Greek word for "strive" is agonizomai, which is where we get our English word "agonize". It implies an agonizing, intense, purposeful struggle. It is the same word used in 1 Corinthians 9:25 of an athlete battling to win a victory. It is also used in Colossians 4:12 of Epaphras laboring fervently, and in 1 Timothy 6:12, of the Christian who "fights the good fight of faith."

We are told many times in the Gospels that Jesus taught everywhere He went, but obviously every teaching and every conversation is not recorded. However, we know He taught this same thing in the sermon on the mount as recorded by Matthew.

“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it."

If we look at these two passages together, we find the following:

• The way to eternal life is narrow, hard to find and difficult


• Only a few will find it


• Once found, we must strive or 'fight' to get in


• Many will try to get in and will not be able

If you're like me, when you read those items above you almost don't recognize that as the Gospel. We surely don't hear that preached by the majority of the well known preachers today. Most of what is taught today is an 'easy believism' - but that is a subject for another blog.

First of all, let me state unequivocally that I believe salvation is by grace and faith alone. There is absolutely nothing you can do to earn it or qualify for it. It is a gift from God. So how do we square that with the fact that we have to 'fight' to enter in? Let me make a couple of points.

First, for those of us that have been raised with the truth, the statement that the way to eternal life is hard to find seems a little odd. But that is only because it has been shown to us from the beginning - even from our childhood. But most are not as blessed. For those raised outside the truth, the truth is hard to find. Imagine yourself growing up a Buddhist or a Muslim or even an atheist. It would not be easy to find the truth.

Secondly, once it's been found we still must fight to enter in. This is true for all who find the narrow gate. There are people who sit in churches across America every Sunday and hear the truth. The way to eternal life is shown them again and again and again. And yet they do not enter in. What are they fighting? What is preventing them from making it in?

Self.

“If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it." - Jesus Christ

C.S. Lewis puts it this way:

“The natural life is each of us is something self-centered, something that wants to be petted and admired, to take advantage of others, to exploit the whole universe. And especially it wants to be left to itself: to keep well away from anything better or stronger or higher than it, anything that might make it feel small. It is afraid of the light and air of the spiritual world, just as people who have been brought up to be dirty are afraid of a bath. And in a sense it is quite right. It knows that if the spiritual life gets hold of it, its self centeredness and self will are going to be killed and it is ready to fight tooth and nail to avoid that.”

So it is a fight - a fight with your self - to even yield yourself to the grace and mercy extended to you by God. And even if you win that fight and decide to follow Jesus, self will show itself again the next day and the fight will be on - and the day after that, and the day after that and the day after that. That's why Jesus said to take up your cross 'daily' - we must crucify the flesh - the old nature on a daily basis.

The Apostle Paul put it this way:

Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.

Are there few that are saved? Unfortunately, the answer is yes. Jesus clearly stated that as we discussed above. But here is an interesting thing. Remember the guy that asked the question? Here is the text in its entirety.

Then one said to Him, “Lord, are there few who are saved?” And He said to them, “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able. When once the Master of the house has risen up and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open for us,’ and He will answer and say to you, ‘I do not know you, where you are from,’ then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets.’ But He will say, ‘I tell you I do not know you, where you are from. Depart from Me, all you workers of iniquity.’ - Luke 13:23-27

Here's what's interesting to me - notice that Jesus did not answer him - not directly. He said to them - to everyone - 'Strive to enter through the narrow gate'. His point was this: Don't worry about how many are saved - worry about whether YOU are saved.

What's In a Name?

Several people have asked me why I started this blog. The easy answer is that I've always had a lot to say, and this blog just gives me another way to say it. That is part of the reason, but another reason was born out of a Sunday School class that I was teaching. At the time I started the blog, I was teaching a class on discernment. As part of preparing for the class I was doing a lot of research on different movements and theologies. My idea was that I would come across information that I wanted to share with people through the blog - so I titled the blog "Truth Seekers".

What I didn't realize was that while teaching that class, God would begin to deal with me about "living the eternal life" (I blogged on that subject back on 12/11/08, so you can go back and read that if you want). For the first time in my life, I began to try and truly live the following scripture:

I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. - Galatians 2:20

I realized that even though I was a Christian and had been born again, I was not letting Christ completely run my life - in other words, I was still living my life and not letting Christ live in me. I wanted Him to change me - to make me into a better person - but in my inner being my personal happiness was still the driving force in my life. So I decided to yield to Him like never before - to truly let the 'eternal' life be the driving force behind my actions and decisions. As part of that, this blog took on a decidedly different flavor and began to be a way for me to exhort and encourage others to also take on the challenge of living the eternal life.

With that in mind, you may have noticed that I've changed the name of the blog. Don't get me wrong, I'm still seeking truth. But what I discovered is there is not much good in finding truth if you don't live it. And there are far too many of us out there who sit and learn truth but never get around to applying it the way we should to our lives. I don't want to do that anymore. I don't know how much time I have left here, but I want to spend it doing my best to yield my members to Him - to allow the Holy Spirit to make me into a Christian - a little Christ.

So let me encourage you - live the 'eternal life'. Take to heart our Savior's call to deny yourself and crucify the flesh. Only is this can we truly find our life.

"If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it." - Jesus Christ

Where are the Christians?

Many of you may have heard about the Barna Research Group's survey. The survey was conducted just recently and then compared with the results of the same survey conducted in 1995, 2000 and then again in 2005. The purpose of the survey was to explore how many Americans have what might be considered a “biblical worldview.”

For the purposes of the survey, a "biblical worldview" was defined as believing that absolute moral truth exists; the Bible is totally accurate in all of the principles it teaches; Satan is considered to be a real being or force, not merely symbolic; a person cannot earn their way into Heaven by trying to be good or do good works; Jesus Christ lived a sinless life on earth; and God is the all-knowing, all-powerful creator of the world who still rules the universe today. In the research, anyone who held all of those beliefs was said to have a biblical worldview.

Now if you are like me, those items listed above aren't even controversial. Those statements are basic to Christian doctrine. In fact, let me just get this off my chest and go ahead and state here for the record that I believe the following:

1. Absolute moral truth DOES exist
2. The Bible IS totally accurate in everything it teaches
3. Satan IS a real being
4. A person CANNOT earn their way into Heaven
5. Jesus Christ DID live a sinless life
6. God IS the all-knowing and all-powerful creator and still rules today

Overall, the current research revealed that only 9% of all American adults have a biblical worldview. Now that is bad enough, but it just gets worse from there. Out of the total group surveyed, a sub-group was defined by those who said they have made a personal commitment to Jesus Christ that is important in their life today and that they are certain that they will go to Heaven after they die only because they confessed their sins and accepted Christ as their savior. This sub-group was labeled “born again Christians". The study discovered that among born again Christians, less than one out of every five (19%) had such an outlook on life.

So 19% of people who said they were born-again Christians believe those six statements? How can that be? Although the numbers for the overall group are disheartening, the numbers for those who say they are born-gain are downright staggering to me. Here are some more findings for those who said they are born-again:

46% of born again adults believe in absolute moral truth.

79% of born again adults believe the Bible is accurate in all the principles it teaches.

40% of born again adults are convinced that Satan is a real force.

47% of born again Christians strongly reject the notion of earning salvation through their deeds (this means that 53% believe you CAN earn salvation through your works!).

62% of born again adults believe that Jesus lived a sinless life.

93% of born again adults say that God is the all-powerful, all-knowing creator of the universe who still rules it today.

One other thing that is really frightening is what they found in young people. As I was writing this blog I texted my older son Joshua who is 21. I asked him if he believed in those six things. He said 'Yes'. I texted back that he could consider himself in the minority. The research data showed that one pattern emerged loud and clear: young adults rarely possess a biblical worldview. The current study found that less than one-half of one percent (1/2%!) of young adults (those aged 18 to 23) have a biblical worldview.

Why is this important? A person's worldview has a powerful impact on their life. A worldview serves as a filter through which a person makes decisions and choices with lasting impacts. By helping to clarify what a person believes to be important, a worldview has a dramatic influence on a person’s choices in any given situation. A person's worldview has a dramatic effect in behavior related to matters such as media use, profanity, gambling, alcohol use, honesty, civility, and sexual choices. When your worldview is corrupt, the conscience is defiled.

Where are the Christians - the true Christians? How have we come to a point in this society where a person can call themselves 'born-again' and not believe that their Savior lived a sinless life? Can call themselves Christians and still believe that salvation can be earned through works?

“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it." - Jesus Christ

Informing the Conscience

Most airplanes have a radar system built into them. This radar system warns the pilot of danger. He could be flying too low or there could be another plane within range, but whatever the danger he relies upon the radar system to warn him. As humans, we have two types of radar systems, so to speak, built into us. One is for our body and the other for our spirit.

The radar system for our body is called pain. Pain warns us that something is not right. For a young child, it serves as a great teacher. As parents we can warn them again and again, but they only have to touch a hot stove or a burning match one time and pain will teach them a lesson they won't soon forget. Now most people consider pain a bad thing, but it's really not. In fact, it's a wonderful gift from God. Just think for a moment what a life without pain would be like - not knowing when something is too hot, not knowing when something hurts. The results would be disastrous.

Just as pain functions as a warning system for our body, the conscience performs the same function for our our inner man. How does it work? First of all, it has an innate ability to sense between what is right and what is wrong. The conscience urges you to do what you believe is right and restrains you from doing what you believe is wrong. When you violate your conscience, it condemns you and triggers feelings of shame, regret and anxiety. Conversely, when you follow your conscience, it commends you and brings self-respect, well-being and gladness. Conscience is at the heart of what distinguishes a human being from other creatures. People, unlike animals, can contemplate their own actions and make moral self-evaluations. That is the very function of conscience.

But don't equate the conscience with the voice of God or the law of God. Everyone has a conscience, both Christians and non-believers. It is a human faculty that judges your actions and thoughts by the light of the highest standard you perceive. And herein lies the problem. Because it is only a human faculty it is not perfect. Teaching, tradition and truth all inform the conscience, so the standards it holds you to are not necessarily biblical ones. For example, since teaching informs the conscience, false or wrong teaching can "program" the conscience incorrectly and give the person invalid information regarding right and wrong. Other things that can cripple the conscience are human wisdom and wrong moral influences.

The Scriptures tell us clearly that the conscience can become defiled so that it can no longer distinguish between pure and impure.

To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled. - Titus 1:15

The Apostle Paul tells us that the conscience can be cauterized - seared with a hot iron.

Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron. - 1 Timothy 4:2

Once a conscience is no longer working correctly so that it cannot tell right from wrong - or has been seared so that it is not working at all - at that point we are like an airplane flying in the dark with no radar and no instruments. We are flying blind.

As Christians, it is important to keep our conscience in good working order. Since it reacts to the convictions and beliefs of our mind, it can be sharpened so that it works in accordance with truth. We need to fill up our mind and our hearts with God's Word so that our conscience can be correctly informed and able to judge rightly.

A New Heart

I've been thinking about my skin. Now I'll admit I don't normally think about my skin that often - OK, never - but I've been thinking about how much our skin changes over our lifetime. A baby's skin is so soft and smooth and perfect. No scars or bumps or wrinkles or blemishes. It hasn't been affected by the wind and sun or the rough and tumble of life. And then I look at mine. Like most people over 40, our skin just isn't what it used to be. It's full of lines and scars and blemishes. And the thing is, there is nothing I can do to go back and restore it to the way it was. I can try different creams and lotions and even surgery if I get desperate, but it is what it is. Maybe I can make some minor improvements, but I can't change it. The skin I was born with started to decay and die the minute I came into the world.

Our life is a like that, too. The prophet Jeremiah put it this way:

"Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? Then you also can do good who are accustomed to doing evil." - Jeremiah 13:23

We've all sinned, and that sin has created scars and blemishes on the inside. And no matter what we do we can't change it. We can even want desperately to change. We can read all the self-help books we can find to try and improve ourselves. We can make lifestyle changes like going to church or quitting smoking. Maybe I can make some minor improvements, but I can't change who I am on the inside. The person I am was born dead in sin - accustomed to doing evil. As Jeremiah said, the same way a man can't change his skin, neither can he change his nature from evil to good.

But the good news is that God isn't interested in just changing or improving me. He wants something far different. He wants to create me again. He wants a new man.

Jesus tried to explain this to Nicodemus.

Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. - John 3:3-6

With my new birth I get everything new, not just re-furbished. But greater than that is the fact that this new life isn't like my old one. Paul said it this way:

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. - 2Corinthians 5:17

I have a new mind. (1 Corinthians 2:16).

I have a new spirit. (Ezekiel 36:27)

I have a new life. (John 14:6)

I have a new heart. (Ezekiel 11:19)

The reality of this new heart really came home to me over the last few days. My father-in-law had open heart surgery. They did two bypasses and a valve replacement and he is doing great. But no matter how good a job they did - it is not a new heart. And eventually over time it will decay and run down just like all other human hearts always have. But with my new birth I've been given a different type of heart.

"Then I will give them a heart to know Me, that I am the LORD; and they shall be My people, and I will be their God, for they shall return to Me with their whole heart." - Jeremiah 24:7

I have been given a new heart - but this new heart is not like my old one. It is not a heart that is born to sin. It is a heart that is set apart to God - a heart born to holiness.

Humility

In our class we are going through the book 'Mere Christianity' by C.S. Lewis. We were covering the chapter on Pride, and since Humility is the opposite of Pride I asked my class what they first thought of when they think of a 'humble' man. Some of the responses included 'meek', 'weak' and 'low self-esteem'. I must admit I think the same way. When I think of a humble man I think of a man with his head down, unwilling to accept praise or congratulations. It just goes to show what a distorted view of 'humility' we really have.

For us to understand what true Humility really is, we first have to understand Pride. Pride is all about self. I can do it, I'm better than you, I deserve it, I'm a good person. As C.S. Lewis says, it's the complete 'anti-God' state of mind. God absolutely hates and opposes Pride.

I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech. - Proverbs 8:13

God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble. - James 4:6

Why does He hate it so? Because as long as 'self' is on the throne of our lives we cannot know Him. It is the greatest barrier to a relationship with Him. So how do we overcome Pride and find Humility within ourselves? Well, first we have to realize our own bankruptcy. We have to truly understand that I can't do it, I'm not better than you, I don't deserve it and I'm not a good person. The scriptures call this a "broken and contrite heart". We have to see ourselves for who we really are, which then allows us to see God for who He truly is. We have to depose 'self' as the ruler of our hearts and replace it with God. Then and only then can we practice true Humility.

What will that humility look like?

Do not imagine that if you meet a really humble man he will be what most people call ‘humble’ nowadays. Probably all you will think about him is that he seemed a cheerful chap who took a real interest in what you said to him. He will not be thinking about humility: he will not be thinking about himself at all.” - C.S. Lewis

Do we know what true humility really is - or do we only know how to "act" humble? A truly humble person will not be thinking about acting humble - he will not be thinking about himself or humility at all. He will only be thinking about his Savior, and his glory will be in Him.

But “he who glories, let him glory in the LORD.”For not he who commends himself is approved, but whom the Lord commends. - 2Corinthians 10:17-18