SO YOU THINK IT’S FOR YOU
Pride is the most subtle of all sins. You may have heard me say before that pride existed in heaven before there was a devil. If it can get in heaven without a devil, it can get anywhere. It can even get into something or someone close to Jesus.
This brings me to one of Dr. Tozer’s allegories. He said, “It’s the first Palm Sunday and here comes Jesus riding into Jerusalem on a donkey. The crowd begins to shout, ‘Hosanna, Hosanna!’ The old donkey picks up his ears. Some in the crowd throw their coats on the road – others spread out palm branches. ‘Well,’ says the donkey, swishing a fly off a mange patch, ‘I had no idea they really appreciated me like this. Listen to those hosannas, would you – I must really be something.’”
Poor donkey! Didn’t he realize it wasn’t for him, it was for Jesus? Anytime people want to lift you up for something you have accomplished in the Spirit, just remember, you are nothing but the donkey Jesus is riding. Don’t think the applause is for you.
How God longs to bless us – but He longs to bless where His reputation is safe. I have seen men who were quite knowledgeable of the Scriptures. That’s a great thing. There’s a difference in having confidence in the Book and confidence in my knowledge and interpretation of the Book. The last time I checked I believe that latter attitude is called pride.
Everything we do is to be to the glory of God. Glory is only safe when deposited at the feet of Jesus. So, often we frustrate because we think our place is too small. “How could I ever have revival here?” Did you ever stop to consider that this all began in a manger? What’s any smaller or more insignificant than that? God glories in taking the insignificant and using it. Then He is assured that we and others will say, “Thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory.” Be satisfied where you are, to the glory of God!
Warren Wiersbe said, “If God wants you to leave, He has a place for you. But if God wants you to stay, He has grace for you.” It may be that the insignificant place you feel you are was designed by God to develop you. Being satisfied, even with little, is an enemy of pride. I want to embrace every enemy of pride. I don’t ever want to be a donkey carrying Jesus thinking the people are lifting me up.
Eddie Rickenbacker was once asked what was the biggest lesson he learned after a crash at sea, and from drifting about with his companions in life rafts for twenty-one days in the Pacific. “The biggest lesson I learned,” he said, “was if you have all the fresh water you want to drink, and all the food you need to eat, you ought never to complain about anything.” What a thought! What a truth!
We are living in pivotal times. God has a place for all of us. May we be satisfied with little or much. If God is in it, that’s all that matters. Someone well observed, “Hang on! Your mess will be your message. Your test will be your testimony. Your trial will be your triumph!”
All glory belongs to Him.
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