Forget the World

YES!  Forget the world!  It really has nothing to offer.  The condition of the world speaks for itself.  I think of those who have ever achieved any tremendous amount of success, like a star athlete or a law maker of some sort, or a television icon.  If I follow the life of someone rich and famous I see that they are not happy.  In fact, for some reason, these unhappy people are who the entire world wants to be.  It seems that the world has made us completely stupid.  The typical actor can never keep a relationship together and every time something new happens in their life its in a million different news articles.  The role of that actor in his/her work changes all the time to showcase a way of life or person that they, in reality, may not want to promote.  As the fame, money, possessions and attention come, so does the emptiness of finding out that after inheriting the world...something is still missing.  Yet the entire world strives to be like this person.  People buy things they can't afford and work crazy hours just to afford a lifestyle like this person.  As if they're trying to become more like their idol or icon.  When life slaps these followers in the face and their plans to become more like their idol fall through, they themselves fall into depression because THAT is their hope in life.  THAT, meaning their idol, themselves also ends their life or their prime...unhappy and broken. 
Looking at this big problem, it seems to me that this world is closer to God than most may think.  Because when we realize there is a problem we do away with the old us.  That is about the only thing this world does right is realize there is a need for change.  We get everything else completely wrong.  Instead of denying ourselves and following Jesus, we follow our icon or our idol.  Instead of being more Christlike, we become more like our idols or icons.  And we rely way too much on self help when the bible is very clear that we can not do life alone.  When we do invite others into our lives to rely on them to fix our problems, we never stay fixed and usually end up in even worse condition than we would have had we allowed Jesus to be sovereign over our lives (see Luke 11).  Forget the world, it has nothing to offer!  The fallen condition of this world has us believe we need to achieve all we can achieve and pursue our potential and have as much fun as possible before your days are over.
When are we going to realize that this world only has table scraps to offer in comparison to the feast that awaits us in the eternal kingdom of the living God?
What an indescribable peace there is in trusting in Jesus.  Taking Him at His word.  Watching Him come through and living out that abundant life that He promises us both now and after this life.  Having an amazing quiet time in the Word as He speaks to us and shares His love and many promises to us.  We have a great God, Father, Friend, Savior and many other things in our Lord Jesus, and I wouldn't trade Him for the world. :)

Pride

1 Corinthians 4

The Ministry of Apostles

 ¹This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. ²Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy. ³But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. ⁴ For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me. ⁵Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God.  ⁶I have applied all these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, brothers,^[a] that you may learn by us not to go beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up in favor of one against another. ⁷For who sees anything different in you? What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?
 ⁸Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich! Without us you have become kings! And would that you did reign, so that we might share the rule with you! ⁹For I think that God has exhibited us apostles as last of all, like men sentenced to death, because we have become a spectacle to the world, to angels, and to men. ¹⁰ We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are held in honor, but we in disrepute. ¹¹To the present hour we hunger and thirst, we are poorly dressed and buffeted and homeless, ¹²and we labor, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; ¹³when slandered, we entreat. We have become, and are still, like the scum of the world, the refuse of all things.
 ¹⁴I do not write these things to make you ashamed, but to admonish you as my beloved children. ¹⁵For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel. ¹⁶I urge you, then, be imitators of me. ¹⁷That is why I sent^[b] you Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, to remind you of my ways in Christ,^[c] as I teach them everywhere in every church. ¹⁸Some are arrogant, as though I were not coming to you. ¹⁹But I will come to you soon, if the Lord wills, and I will find out not the talk of these arrogant people but their power. ²⁰For the kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power. ²¹What do you wish? Shall I come to you with a rod, or with love in a spirit of gentleness?

This scripture stepped on my toes today.  One of the biggest struggles in life for people but men in particular, is to get over their pride.  When we realize that pride is only a useless possession, it could be one of your biggest steps closer to God.  Pride can stop you from all kinds of things, but in particular, pride makes it hard for you to walk in repentance, by robbing you of any humbleness.  In this scripture Paul says "What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?"....So Paul was talking to the church...but doesn't the same stand true for everyone.  What do you boast about that you did not receive?  Did God not give you your talent, money, career, athletic ability, good grades, church, spouse?  Did God not give you His son Jesus so you can have eternal salvation?  The bible says salvation belongs to the Lord.   So if nothing was ever yours to begin with, even your salvation, why do you boast?  I believe what God is using Paul to tell us is that if we receive anything we should not hog it as if it were ours, but share it since it is not.  One of my biggest battles has been tithing, when I finally completely submitted to God I was set free from such selfishness and pride.  I am guilty in that when God is using me to do something significant, pride is always there as soon as the work is done so I may boast in myself.  No wander the most vulnerable time for most pastors is right after they finish preaching a good sermon.  Satan will attack you with pride and make you think that because you've experienced extraordinary increase in an area of your life, that you have reason to feel enabled and empowered.  Outside of ministry, pride has swallowed up the world.  Even to the point that people actually boast in their sin.  Guys boast about how many women they've slept with, how drunk they got last night, how much pizza they can eat  in one sitting.  All the while running far away from the amazing life God has planned for you by walking in repentance and living a humble life.  If by pride we seek anything of value then why not seek things of more eternal value by seeking FIRST the kingdom of heaven? 
I believe too many people boast in what is not and never was theirs to begin with, BUT once we realize that all things belong to Him and we stop owning His things and actually become stewards, then you will see true blessing and transformation. 
In particular I feel led to say that if you are proud of where you attend church, I would say you've missed the point and have wasted valuable time.  Jesus died for the church, not your church.  That is why I believe in this letter to the Corinthians, Paul starts out in dealing with quarreling in the church.  I believe the fighting may have started with pride.  Too many people lift up the name of their church rather than the name of Jesus.  These people should repent, and embrace all the churches in Gods kingdom.  And at the same time realize that even though your church may teach things a little differently, in most cases there is more than enough truth in the gospel that you both believe in that can hold you together and at the end of the day let Jesus deal with your differences. 
Ask God where He can work on you in this area, because I believe removing the lense of pride over you eyes will help you to see Jesus more, and allow Him to use you in more amazing ways.  Love you guys, now I'm going to go wake up Maddi and play.