The Joy of Humility

But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble." James 4:6

 Humility transforms your life story into a story of joy. Humility teaches you to be secure in God. It helps you break free of insecurity. It releases you from the bondage of always having to prove yourself. Humble people simply rest in the love, grace and mercy of God.   

In fact, one cannot be saved apart from having a spirit of humble recognition that you are a sinner who cannot save yourself. Because only people who humbly embrace that truth will come to Jesus and ask for the forgiveness of their sins.   

 The grace of God is not a license for sin. We can only appreciate and receive His grace when we humbly recognize how sinful we are and how we truly fall short of His glory- of His standards. Acknowledging our sin is not easy. Those who do so begin to understand when Jesus said that He is the Way, the Truth and the Life and no one comes to the Father but by Him.  As we humbly come to Him, we experience the reality of His forgiveness and the joy of eternal life.   Humility transforms your life story into a story of joy. 

 THINK ABOUT IT

Pride gets you nowhere, humility will move you forward in life. 

TALKING WITH GOD

"Loving Father, You are all Powerful. And yet You love me. This is humbling, Lord. Forgive me, Father, if I have stubbornly held on to my pride. Help me to see that humility sets me free from many things. Teach me continually, Lord, to be meek and lowly of heart. For therein, is true strength. In Jesus' Name."

TRANSFORMATION CHALLENGE

Look up some verses on humility and memorize these. Begin with James 4:6. Another good one is- 1 Peter 5:6.   Reflect on how you can embrace humility as a lifestyle.  When you sense prideful attitudes in yourself, confess it to the Lord right away and forsake it. Instead fill your mind and heart with attitudes of humility.   

A Survey of Seven Women in Ministry: Part 1

By Sian Saria

Women have never been excluded from participating in the ministry of God. They have been at the very core of it alongside men. Today, there are many who serve in leadership positions and populate a variety of church ministries. 

This is an article for the women serving God right now, amid these times of strenuous effort into reaching out, connecting, adapting, and doing. I hope that this encourages you in your servitude towards the Lord. 

The survey of seven women in ministry will be found in the book of Acts. 

Let us start off with Mary, the Mother of Jesus. 

1. Mary, the Mother of Jesus (Acts 1:12-26) 

Mary, the Mother of Jesus was the first woman mentioned in the book of Acts. This occurred in Acts 1 which involved the disciples, with Mary, her sons, and other women,  gathered in prayer and in one accord, awaiting the Pentecost. 

In this passage, we notice Mary alongside other women participating in a monumental occasion, devoted in prayer with the disciples and the brothers of Christ. 

It can be observed that the women were not excluded but thoroughly included at the beginning of the Early Church and as we see later, all throughout. 

2. Tabitha-Dorcas (Acts 9:30-43)

Women are seldom mentioned by their names in the Bible; however, Tabitha, or Dorcas, was specified. This woman was described as a “disciple”, “full of good works and acts of charity” (Acts 9:36). The fruits of her compassion-filled labor, done through the power of Christ, were well recognized in the weeping of the widows at Tabitha’s death. These widows held tunics and other garments made by Tabitha for them. 

James 1:27 describes a devout person of the Lord as compassionate, helpful of those that are in need, alone, and oppressed. Tabitha was recognized for that particular trait of hers. Furthermore, God used her restoration to life to bring many to Christ. 

3. Mary, Mother of John (Acts 12:6-19)

Mary, the Mother of John (also called Mark), was mentioned once in the Bible. This instance was found in Acts 12:6-19. Mary’s home was the first place Paul had thought of going to after God had rescued him from imprisonment. Paul knew that it was in Mary’s home that many people were gathered to pray for Paul’s delivery from prison. It seemed as if her home was open to the church, observing how Paul knew where to go right after.  

Mary too was a widow and while wealthy, lived under bitter persecution. She was not only seen as inferior but hated as well. Nonetheless, Mary had still boldly opened her home to the church. Mary’s witnessing is not only noticed in her hospitality, but in the fact that her servants, or servant (Rhoda), is a follower of Christ as well. 

4. Rhoda (Acts 12:5-19)

It is notably important to recognize that a young female servant, a maid, was mentioned in the Bible, alongside the few other women indicated.

Rhoda was the first to know that Paul had been freed from prison. It was simply by the voice of Paul that she was able to recognize him. “Out of her gladness” (Acts 12:14, NKJV), she ran to the group of brothers and sisters praying and excitedly told them that Paul was at their doorstep. In disbelief, she was mocked and called mad. Nevertheless, Rhoda insisted until the group had met Paul at the door, in which they were described to be ‘astonished’. 

It can be observed that Rhoda may have been participating in the frequent gathering of the saints, praying, and learning about God with them. She believed in an instant that God had answered their prayer, whilst the rest were unbelieving. 

In these 4 women, we observe varying backgrounds and statuses, as well as different roles in ministry work. All were recognized. 

“Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart.” 

(2 Cor. 4:1, NIV)

If You Want to Grow

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." Matthew 11:28-30

We need to want to grow. To stop growing is to start dying. If you want to grow you have to rid yourself of a proud attitude. Pride short circuits growth. Pride makes us unteachable.   

If you want to grow you have to embrace humility as a lifestyle. Being humble leads to teachability. Humility makes us brave to look at our failings and to actually learn from them. Pride can keep us from trying. Humility liberates us from such prisons of fear. If you want to grow, then learn humility from the best- Jesus Himself. 

THINK ABOUT IT 

Pride has to die so we can live in humility. Pride enslaves us to many fears. Humility frees us from those chains. 

TALKING WITH GOD

"Loving Father, You are sovereign. All things are in Your hands. Forgive me, Lord, for operating in pride many times.    Set me free from its clutches. Help me to embrace humility.  That I may grow more and more for Your glory. In Jesus' Name."

TRANSFORMATION CHALLENGE 

Learn to handle criticisms and reproofs better. Don't lose sight of the reality that God is sovereign in everything. Take everything as from the Lord.

True Freedom

Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.  And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." John 8:31-32

True freedom is being free from slavery to sin. Sin can be delicious but in the end it is a cruel master. In the beginning it pretends to be a pleasurable slave. But later on you realize that sin is a very cruel tyrant that sucks the life out of all those who fall prey to its seductive allurements. Jesus came not only to die for our sins and pay its penalty of physical, spiritual and eternal death. But He rose again from the dead that through His presence in our lives as we turn from our sins and turn to Him in faith we find freedom from its power over our lives. Only Jesus can break the chains of sin in our lives. Only in Him can we find this true freedom.   

THINK ABOUT IT

Sin is a cruel master.   The way to be free from it is to be a slave of Christ. 

TALKING WITH GOD 

"Loving Father, thank You for the freedoms we enjoy today. Thank You for those who have bravely offered their lives that we may enjoy these liberties today. Forgive us, Lord, if we have taken these freedoms for granted. Forgive us for grieving Your heart with our sins. Thank You for sending the Lord Jesus to die on the cross for our sins and rise again from the dead that we may experience true freedom by faith in Him. Help us share the freedom we enjoy in Christ by empowering us to share the good news of what He has done to others. May others find freedom in Him also. In His Name we pray."

TRANSFORMATION CHALLENGE

What is your besetting sin? If you have put your faith in Jesus and given your heart to Him; you have the power to be free.  Live out your freedom. In Christ, you are no longer a slave to sin. Serve Christ faithfully. Sin leads only to misery. True joy is in living for Christ.

When People Don't Like You

By Pastor Solomon Reyes

The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify of it that its works are evil. - John 7:7

Sometimes we get bothered when people don't seem to like us. Be encouraged in knowing that not everybody liked Jesus. In fact, the Lord said the world hated Him because He testified that its deeds were evil. Jesus loved people even those who did not like Him. But He was committed to doing the will of God even if doing so meant that He would be hated. Whether people liked Him or not, it did not stop the Lord from doing what was right in the eyes of God and doing what was good for the people around Him.   People don't have to like you for you to love them. That's what we learned from Jesus. 

THINK ABOUT IT

God does not want us to focus and worry about whether people like us. He wants us to focus on loving others for His sake. 

TALKING WITH GOD

"Almighty God, You are the God who absolutely understands me. Forgive me, Lord, if I have fallen to the trap of pleasing people.   Help me, Lord, to live solely for Your pleasure. May You be my delight. And then teach me to love others, even those who dislike me. Let me reflect Christ. In His Name."

TRANSFORMATION CHALLENGE

Ask God to set you free from this bondage of being a people pleaser. Find your security in Him. And ask Him to teach to look at people through His eyes. Let His love flow through your life.