This is not what I planned as the subject of my next post. But this is an immediate necessity. A phrase in the Apostle Paul's description of the Mind of our Beautiful Lord (Phil. 2:5-7), has haunted me for some weeks- "but made Himself of no reputation". I have been bothered by the fact that my reputation is so important to me. I'm not talking about seeking to walk righteously lest I defile my Lord's name as Israel is said to have done (Ezekiel 36:16-23). I am talking about that subtle, insidious pride and arrogance that validates my position, my intelligence, my character, my very being, by comparing myself to others. The world has purified it by calling it a "healthy self esteem". Most of the time, we are unaware that we are living "comparatively'. But the Holy Spirit resists the proud and only gives grace to the humble. He most often uses the discipline of circumstances to drive His message into our souls and to extract another tentacle of the original sin out of our hearts.
On my job, I have thought of my self as an especially good worker, even a "favored" worker. I was very pleased with my work ethic, my concern for my customers, all of which sounds very noble. But I was blind to the stirrings in my flesh when a co-worker fouled up, or I was given a seemingly "special assignment". I even thought of myself as being very humble, being a willing servant. But there was a spirit of "I thank God that I am not like one of these" lurking in my bosom. Well, a Divinely ordered circumstance of discipline occurred this week. It was of such a nature that not only did I lose my "good" reputation, I now have a "bad" reputation. I may even lose my job! I did nothing evil or seditious, I merely was just momentarily careless.
The lesson is, and the desire of my heart is, to learn to live out of union with and fellowship with my Sweet Lord Jesus instead of living at the expense of someone else's reputation. May Colossians 3:17 be the passion of my soul, "And whatsoever you do in word or deed, do all in the NAME OF THE LORD JESUS, giving thanks to GOD THE FATHER through HIM (JESUS)." This applies not only to our daily walk in this world, but even to our spiritual and doctrinal issues with believers and professing believers. There is nothing in my eternal salvation and my understanding of it that I have not received out of my Lord's Hand of Grace and Mercy. My behavior should be characterized by the heart of the publican--"Oh my God, be merciful to me a sinner." How I praise Him that He is ever merciful (Ex. 34:6-7) I appeal daily to His Throne of Grace to "obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need." (Heb. 4:16) For all is of grace, and to truly understand that is to put to death pride and arrogance and comparative living. Beware of subtle sin!
On my job, I have thought of my self as an especially good worker, even a "favored" worker. I was very pleased with my work ethic, my concern for my customers, all of which sounds very noble. But I was blind to the stirrings in my flesh when a co-worker fouled up, or I was given a seemingly "special assignment". I even thought of myself as being very humble, being a willing servant. But there was a spirit of "I thank God that I am not like one of these" lurking in my bosom. Well, a Divinely ordered circumstance of discipline occurred this week. It was of such a nature that not only did I lose my "good" reputation, I now have a "bad" reputation. I may even lose my job! I did nothing evil or seditious, I merely was just momentarily careless.
The lesson is, and the desire of my heart is, to learn to live out of union with and fellowship with my Sweet Lord Jesus instead of living at the expense of someone else's reputation. May Colossians 3:17 be the passion of my soul, "And whatsoever you do in word or deed, do all in the NAME OF THE LORD JESUS, giving thanks to GOD THE FATHER through HIM (JESUS)." This applies not only to our daily walk in this world, but even to our spiritual and doctrinal issues with believers and professing believers. There is nothing in my eternal salvation and my understanding of it that I have not received out of my Lord's Hand of Grace and Mercy. My behavior should be characterized by the heart of the publican--"Oh my God, be merciful to me a sinner." How I praise Him that He is ever merciful (Ex. 34:6-7) I appeal daily to His Throne of Grace to "obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need." (Heb. 4:16) For all is of grace, and to truly understand that is to put to death pride and arrogance and comparative living. Beware of subtle sin!
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