I'm reading a book called Future Grace by John Piper. It has really helped me in my personal walk with Christ and my transition to stepping out on Faith by coming to Southern Seminary. Piper talks about how easy it is to trust God in the grace that He has already given to us in the past but when it comes to our future, how much do we really trust in His grace? I love hearing about people's testimonies on how God supplied them with grace in specific situations and areas in their lives, but what I'm not used to hearing as much is how people are rejoicing in the things to come. If you really stop and think about it, how many times have you heard certain people say they are incredibly overjoyed in what God has in store by the grace that will be given. I mean don't get me wrong its not completely absent but its not always a constant theme. Our pride is very dangerous to our Christian lives! Piper points out that humility isn't the most sought out thing in this world. Even within the confines of the church there can be a sense of haughtiness and prideful hearts! "Look at what I have done Lord!" A congregation member comes up and compliments on how well the worship was and before we know it we get a big head and take credit for it. We preach in front of a congregation of 500 to 1,000 or teach a Sunday School class and we walk out of the church thinking of our own strength and how well we did. Even when we walk out wondering how well we presented a sermon or lead a worship service, can take away from God's glory. Now don't get me wrong we want to yearn to present the Truth to its fullest and lead a congregation to the Throne of God in complete adoration and praise! But that also has a lot to do with whether or not our hearts were clean and pure before we step foot in the church. If the answer is yes to our hearts having been cleansed then we move to how focused we have been in Christ and how deeply rooted we have placed our lives in the Lord. Finally, when both of those things are true, we then must move to the investigation of how much we trust in the power of the Holy Spirit to work through us! Okay so I might have gotten off track a little bit but those things are crucially important! Now back to our pride. Romans chapter 8 verses 1 through 17 talk about the battle between our flesh and The Spirit.
Piper quotes a local newspaper that published the following words.
"There are some who naively cling to the nostalgic memory of God. The average churcgoer takes a few hours out of the week to experience the sacred... But the rest of the time, he is immersed in a society that no longer acknowledges God as an omniscient and omnipotent force to be loved and worshipped... Tody we are too sophisticated for God. We can stand on our own; we are prepared and ready to choose and define our own existence."
Piper goes on to reveal that this very published article proves that the atmosphere we breathe is hostile to humility. Our humility and brokenness is essential to the way we live our lives unto God. If I can just be honest and I know that this is a local newspaper but even so, if that kind of statement is made about the church, which claims Jesus to be the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, then that breaks my heart! The world embraces a Prideful and Haughty spirit but we are called as the church of Christ to be set apart from the world! Piper defines pride as a turning away from God specifically to take satisfaction in self. So in reality, pride is a specific form of unbelief because we are not placing our hope and trust in God; therefore, proving we do not trust in His promises and grace!
Piper uses Deuteronomy Chapter 8:11-17 to reveal what God warns us about pride
"Beware... lest, when you have eaten and are satisfied, and have built good houses and lived in them, and when your herds and your flocks multiply, and your silver and gold multiply, and all that you have multiplies, then your heart becomes proud, and you forget the Lord your God who brought you out from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery... In the wilderness He fed you manna which your fathers did not know, that He might humble you and that He might test you, to do good for you in the end. Otherwise, you may say in your heart, 'My power and the strength of my hand made me this wealth.'"
In the book Future Grace, Piper makes the statement, Future grace, not military force, is the final hope of kings and warriors-and everyone else.
"Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him, on those who hope for His loving kindness... He is our help and our shield. For our heart rejoices in Him, because we trust in His holy name." (Psalm 33:18, 20-21)
So the question we need to think upon is this, Where do we place our boasting in? In ourselves or in Christ? As a child of God, cleansed by the blood of Christ I would like to answer by claiming Jeremiah 9:23-24.
"'But let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord who exercises lovingkindness, justice, and rightousness on earth; for I delight in these things,' declares the Lord."
For His Kingdom,
Twiga
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