So, they said to him, “What did He do to you? How did He open your eyes?” He answered them, “I told you already and you did not listen; why do you want to hear it again? You do not want to become His disciples too, do you?” They reviled him and said, “You are His disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where He is from.” John 9:26-29
For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, so that no man may boast before God. But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, so that, just as it is written, “let him who boasts, boast in the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 1:26-31
For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. Ephesians 2:8-10
Today's thoughts from today's verses:
When we are not truly in step with the Spirit through self-surrender, etc., bold attempts to reach the world often are riddled with pride and boastfulness. Spiritual boldness is always humble. It is not about us. There is no room for pride and boasting. It is about God touching the lives of others through us. A vessel that is not empty has no room for being filled with something else. Those who are humble and empty of self are able to be filled with God’s loving presence. When such vessels are used to touch the lives of others, it is God’s presence that is poured out. Spiritual boldness comes readily to the one who truly knows that God’s presence will flow from their life because they know self with its pride and boasting is out of the way.
Today's prayer response from today's thoughts:
Lord, I know you don’t want me to stop being me, but you do want me to stop being in charge. So, show me how to be humble and empty so that you can fill me up and have full sway over my entire being and my entire life. Remove pride and boastfulness far from my dealings with others so that I am merely a vessel from which your presence is poured out. Amen!
