Oops!

Ephesians 3:8 "Although I am less than the least of all God's people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ"

The wise king of Israel, Solomon, wrote this about pride . . . "it goes before destruction." (Proverbs 16:18.) Everything seems really great to those of us who think the world of ourselves. Why, even in our inner voice, we converse these words most eloquently . . . "I am the champion, no room for losers, I am the champion of the world." Rock stars sing it, actors voice it, financiers flaunt it and many a religious person has proclaimed it in the name of God. The Apostle Paul was there too. His pride-o-meter was at its peak as he carried the scroll with the highest of religious authority's golden seal of approval, "stone him . . . stone Stephen; arrest them, throw all of 'The Way' followers into the dungeons . . . Restrain them all as you journey on the Damascus Road." I wonder if Paul, before he heard Jesus say, "Saul, Saul . . ." had recently read some of Solomon's Proverbs, like what we just spoke about . . . pride . . . it goes before destruction. C.H. Spurgeon, "The fuller a vessel becomes, the deeper it sinks in the water." "If you seek humility, try hard work; if you would know your nothingness, attempt some great thing for Jesus." Proverbs 3:5-6 reads "Trust in the Lord, do not rely on your own understanding . . . You see, when we recognize that God is in control there is no oops in his plan. He knows the plans that he has for you. Plans to give you a future and a hope. God tell us "Don't' go the oops route by trying to do it in your own strength . . . "When you seek me with your whole heart and the humility of saying . . . 'Lord give me that understanding and strength that I can walk by faith and by sight . . . that I might be able to accomplish great things for you . . . that I want to be the fuller vessel that is deeply sunken to the floor to say God You are Holy and Good.' " May God bless you today as you go into the world. Be the light and be the salt.

Love,

Chappy

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