I was critical of my church a few days ago but now I'm going to start pointing the finger directly at myself...
Something I have been wanting to do for years now is to conduct bible studies with friends and family. I did one a few years ago with my mom, and because of those studies and the Holy Spirit, she's now attending church each and every Sabbath.
So of course, I started getting an ego and thinking that it was me who was responsible for her conversion to biblical Christianity, but alas...I just planted a seed. God did the rest.
And there are times I REALLY need to remember that. Because while these studies can be a blessing, our ego and pride can get in the way of giving glory to God.
This was again the case in my life last week....
I was talking to one of my best friends on planet earth and I've been bugging him to do some bible studies with me. He actually is a Christian, so this isn't a 'conversion' study or anything. I just thought it would be great for two brothers, who both grew up secular and came to Christ in our adulthood, to share some Scripture and grow in Christ.
He's been wary of doing them with me, and it was made clear to me why during our last conversation.
Long story short, I was making a joke that he took offence to and before I knew it, I'm trashing his faith and he's trashing mine. We're literally brothers from another mother, so this wasn't like hurtful comments and disrespectful mean words. We were literally just poking fun at each other's beliefs because while Christians, we aren't in the same denomination.
Back and forth this went for a few minutes and after we laughed it off, he said something that made me stop and realize where I was going wrong with him....
"See, this is why I never want to do bible studies with you!"
His comment, while joking around, hit me like a ton of bricks because I saw how I was failing him but more importantly, letting my pride and ego fail God.
When I broke down why we started throwing jabs at each other, I saw that it was my initial comment that started it all. While I was joking about what I said, there was a taint of pride in the comment. It came from a place where...I knew more than him and he should listen to what I say.
Oh wretched man that I am....
See, this is how Satan gets us because guess who is one of the greatest bible scholars of all time...The devil himself. Anytime I think I know more than the next man, I'm reminded of that same pride that Satan tempted Jesus with in the wilderness (Matthew 4).
I don't know more than anyone. Sure I may think I have the truth of all truth, but that doesn't give me the right to parade it around like I'm better than anyone else. That's how demons do 'bible study' not how Christ does.
So going forward, I am going to check my ego at the door. Meet people on the common ground and see what the bible says. Not what Jongo says. Not what a pastor says. But what does Scripture say.
After all, how did Christ rebuke the devil in the wilderness?
It is written.....
