We had just started our morning session with the men at the Sunshine Rescue Mission. Our topic for the class was "Arrogance, Pride & Humility. Sometimes folks walking by stop on the sidewalk just outside the front windows to look in and listen. We always invite them in. Today a shoe-less guy took up our offer stepped inside the front door.
His shoe-less-ness only became apparent after he began walking through the room. He walked along the back row of guys and they greeted him warmly. He said he needed shoes. One of the guys told him to have a seat and listen. He would get shoes after the class.
You could call that an "act of compassion with responsibility." The shoe-less man listened intently during the rest of the class.Too often we just give physical things away without including a spiritual opportunity to know the Love of God behind the physical giving.
Our lesson examined the roots of arrogance, pride and fear. Addiction is an attempt to fill a void in our humanity. Only God's love can fill our hearts. Arrogance is a synonym for "I know it all," or "I know more than you." Pride will cause someone in a program to say "I don't need you, I've got this by myself."
Humility is the antidote for the disease of arrogance. Humility has a peripheral vision with the ability to focus on the needs of others. Humility gives credit instead of taking credit. Our Key Bible verse for the day was Mark 7:20-23.
"And Jesus said, “The things that come out of a man are the things that make him unclean. 21 All these evil things begin inside a person, in the mind: evil thoughts, sexual immorality, stealing, murder, adultery, 22 selfishness, doing bad things to other people, lying, doing sinful things, jealousy, saying bad things about people, pride, and foolish living. 23 All these evil things come from within a person. These things make a person unclean.”
Jesus was having a discussion with religious leaders about cleanliness. The religious folks were questioning why the friends of Christ were not washing their hands. They were up to their usual shenanigans of trying to trap Jesus into breaking a religious law. You can follow the law. but still be lost and not follow Love. What's your motive behind your action?
Many relationships, businesses and organizations are affected adversely by pride. We all have fissures in our character that will widen into an abyss of evil things. Humility will see the penetrating gaze of God in examining our own personal habits. A great action word in scrutinizing our character is "motive." What is the motive in your heart for doing something? Do you do things for personal glory or to give God glory?
The shoe-less man had a motive to get some shoes. The guys at the Mission had a motive to give the man Love - God's Way. Their motive was a more excellent way that gave shoes with Love. We're proud of those guys at the Sunshine Rescue Mission! They went the extra mile to show a man Love. They went beyond normal. Their motive was rooted in humility and compassion.
Thanks for your time. Go do something nice for somebody. Jesus loves you and so do we.
His shoe-less-ness only became apparent after he began walking through the room. He walked along the back row of guys and they greeted him warmly. He said he needed shoes. One of the guys told him to have a seat and listen. He would get shoes after the class.
You could call that an "act of compassion with responsibility." The shoe-less man listened intently during the rest of the class.Too often we just give physical things away without including a spiritual opportunity to know the Love of God behind the physical giving.
Our lesson examined the roots of arrogance, pride and fear. Addiction is an attempt to fill a void in our humanity. Only God's love can fill our hearts. Arrogance is a synonym for "I know it all," or "I know more than you." Pride will cause someone in a program to say "I don't need you, I've got this by myself."
Humility is the antidote for the disease of arrogance. Humility has a peripheral vision with the ability to focus on the needs of others. Humility gives credit instead of taking credit. Our Key Bible verse for the day was Mark 7:20-23.
"And Jesus said, “The things that come out of a man are the things that make him unclean. 21 All these evil things begin inside a person, in the mind: evil thoughts, sexual immorality, stealing, murder, adultery, 22 selfishness, doing bad things to other people, lying, doing sinful things, jealousy, saying bad things about people, pride, and foolish living. 23 All these evil things come from within a person. These things make a person unclean.”
Jesus was having a discussion with religious leaders about cleanliness. The religious folks were questioning why the friends of Christ were not washing their hands. They were up to their usual shenanigans of trying to trap Jesus into breaking a religious law. You can follow the law. but still be lost and not follow Love. What's your motive behind your action?
Many relationships, businesses and organizations are affected adversely by pride. We all have fissures in our character that will widen into an abyss of evil things. Humility will see the penetrating gaze of God in examining our own personal habits. A great action word in scrutinizing our character is "motive." What is the motive in your heart for doing something? Do you do things for personal glory or to give God glory?
The shoe-less man had a motive to get some shoes. The guys at the Mission had a motive to give the man Love - God's Way. Their motive was a more excellent way that gave shoes with Love. We're proud of those guys at the Sunshine Rescue Mission! They went the extra mile to show a man Love. They went beyond normal. Their motive was rooted in humility and compassion.
Thanks for your time. Go do something nice for somebody. Jesus loves you and so do we.
Please join our email list if you would like to keep up to date on YWAPportuniies to serve youth and their families. YWAP empowers people to become collaborators in a community effort to create a better world for children and their families. Investing in youth is a preemptive strike against sexual abuse, drug addiction and human trafficking. Our new program is called “Strong Men Great Dads.” A fatherless generation is lacking the knowledge of a Father’s Love. Our goal is to help guys become Christ-centered men who respect women and accept the responsibilities of becoming a dad. The YWAP Directors serve in Pastoral Leadership by ministering to Youth Ministry Teams and Prayer Teams. We teach Biblically based best practices from a 25 year background in ministry. We appreciate your prayers and support. For more information about YWAP programs, to volunteer or become a guest speaker, please call us at: 716-830-8240 or email, [email protected].
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