Righteousness Pride

[Story-Teller]

Righteousness Pride


Dear Daily Message Readers,

To progress the ministry of the Daily Message, I have prayerfully added my college roommate to the devotional writers list. So there are now two of us writing, Darin and Bryan (my roommate). He will write where needed and fill in when needed. Here's a brief biography of him:

I am the son of two Baptist missionaries to Thailand, the country where I was born and lived for about the first 13 years of my life. God has put a call on my life to ministry which I am pursuing on my college campus where I am a sophomore Religion major. God seems to be leading me towards seminary after college, and some sort of pastorate. I have been blessed with the gift of leading worship with my guitar (and hopefully soon, piano). Some songs have sprung from my music, and I continue to write worship songs as often as possible.

Here's Bryan's first devotion:
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READ: 1 Thessalonians 2

1 Thessalonians 2:19 (NIV) "For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you? Indeed you are our glory and our joy?"
Pride is a sin that Scripture doesn't take lightly. Jesus gave the Pharisees quite a tongue lashing concerning their pride in prayer and righteous acts (Luke 18:9-14). The apostle Paul was quite clear that boasting was not an option for those who followed our Lord (1 Corinthians 1:26-31).

How then can there be a righteous pride? Scripture points away from our acts towards those of the Father. Jeremiah 9:24 advises "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord." There is nothing righteous that comes through our own labor but only because of our good and holy Savior God.


How does righteous pride spill out into our lives? Obviously, boasting of our own God-given righteousness is to be done with a great deal of care, lest others get the impression that it is our own work. Paul found an outlet for his righteous pride in the work of God in others. We can freely boast constantly of the work of God in other's lives without the danger of being prideful ourselves. Paul's joy was found in the sanctification of other believers, and he rejoiced as he saw God moving in their lives.

How does the joy of the Lord express itself in your life? Do you constantly extol your own virtues or do you build up other believers? Sharing in God's movings among your brothers and sisters in Christ will fill up your heart with joy that will spill out into your own life.


Faith Lesson: Boast of God's work in the lives of fellow believers rather than your own.

In Christ,
Bryan Peters
Submitted by Richard

 

[The Robster]

Why wouldn't you boast in what God is doing in your life? Some Christians truly believe that God won't help you on this planet overcome any obstacle the enemy puts in your way. And when you say God will, most Christians claim that you advance false doctrine. If God is delivering you from sickness and disease and poverty and other things then certainly boast about what the Lord has done for you. Serve as a tesimony to others that God will do the things that He promises in the Word. Whenever God is doing something good in your life, you should share with others. That encourages people to have faith and to believe they can reach out and take from the Lord. There are many believers out there that are increasing in faith because they hear of what God has done for others. Boasting about the great things the Lord is doing is Bible defined humility. That's definitely not being prideful. Be careful brother. The way the world defines pride and humility is very different from how God defines it in the Bible. Some people read the David and Goliath account and believe that David was being prideful and arrogant. But he was actually being humble when you examine more closely that all he did was boast in the Lord delivering Goliath's head to him and the victory coming via the Lord. We should learn to walk more like the patriarchs did.

 

[Story-Teller]

Why wouldn't you boast in what God is doing in your life? Some Christians truly believe that God won't help you on this planet overcome any obstacle the enemy puts in your way. And when you say God will, most Christians claim that you advance false doctrine. If God is delivering you from sickness and disease and poverty and other things then certainly boast about what the Lord has done for you. Serve as a tesimony to others that God will do the things that He promises in the Word. Whenever God is doing something good in your life, you should share with others. That encourages people to have faith and to believe they can reach out and take from the Lord. There are many believers out there that are increasing in faith because they hear of what God has done for others. Boasting about the great things the Lord is doing is Bible defined humility. That's definitely not being prideful. Be careful brother. The way the world defines pride and humility is very different from how God defines it in the Bible. Some people read the David and Goliath account and believe that David was being prideful and arrogant. But he was actually being humble when you examine more closely that all he did was boast in the Lord delivering Goliath's head to him and the victory coming via the Lord. We should learn to walk more like the patriarchs did.

I agree with you but if you talk the talk you must also walk the walk. That is how you boast in the Lord. I've seen people lead to the Lord through Love and Kindness and then I've seen people come to the Lord through preachers preaching Fire and Brimstone. There is a place for both and knowing what time it is is the key.

Some people see where I live and envy me and some people see my place as a shak. I see it as a warm and open home for all to come and enjoy what God has given me. I could go on and on about what God has done for me andis still doing but I'd rather they come see for themselves.