Nothing is more vexing than being confronted with reality.
A string of truths or accurate revelations can be one of the more upsetting circumstances in life. Have you been there?
We’re hoping we have it all, or mostly, together. At times we are certain we do. Hello, red flag, there you are!
In times of spiritual obedience, I start to pat myself on the back. It’s ironic, yes.
In times of a broken and willing spirit, I like to revel in my desperation. “I come to you with nothing, Lord. Nothing.”
This may slide over to, something like, “Lord, thank you for not making me like other men…or…you know… “those people”. (See Luke 18:11)
The line is more fine than you realize…then I realize. It is a theological misconstruction to feel grandiose, at all.
It stops worship.
O, God, that we might realize our sinfulness.
A word for reflection, today:
Had you but once entered into perfect communion with Jesus or tasted a little of His ardent love, you would care nothing at all for your own comfort or discomfort but would rejoice in the reproach you suffer; for love of Him makes a man despise himself.
A man who is a lover of Jesus and of truth, a truly interior man who is free from uncontrolled affections, can turn to God at will and rise above himself to enjoy spiritual peace.
–Thomas á Kempis, The Imitation of Christ
“I see only one hope at the moment. Your patient has become humble. Have you pointed this out to him?” – The Screwtape Letters
This, perhaps, depends on with which “reality” I have been confronted….
The reality of the natural world around me…or the reality of the ever increasing, unshakable, might Kingdom of God that I live in.
Either of which should result in thanksgiving and inspired worship.
Whether the focus of my confrontation is on the Lord or on myself, my reaction should be one of worship….
on the Lord, obviously because of who He is…
on myself, because of who I am in Him and how amazing the miracle of my life is in the hand of the one who created me.
In all situations, in all things…give thanks. It’s like the password into His presence “thanks”….come into His courts with Thanksgiving in my heart….enter His courts with praise….
And, once there…we can come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. Where we receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it
most.
I suppose we have succeeded when our thoughts are directed toward Christ and give us grace for others, drawing us near to them, rather than setting ourselves apart from them.
Humility is probably the most difficult virtue to apprehend. I think that the most important aspect of it that Christ wanted us to master was that constant return to God, saying, “I am a sinner…” When the Holy Spirit gives us true conviction of that sin, then it makes it more difficult to even become prideful in our own turning to God. When Christ told us to become like a little child to become great in the Kingdom of Heaven, I don’t think he was necessarily referring so much to a child’s self-concept or global humility so much as he was referring to the child’s constant realization that he/she doesn’t have it all together, and needs to have help to meet his/her basic needs.
seriously. well. said.
Great point, Jack. That fuller-orbed idea of “child/children” tells me you are surely on to something.
I have really been helped by the prayer, “Lord, Jesus Christ. Have mercy on me a sinner.” (Based, I do believe on the Publican’s prayer.) The more I pray it, the less “me” I become. (In a good way)
P.S.
Please pray for me, brothers and sisters.