Ego Trip


I’m reading through the book of Esther and I can’t help but see the underlining cautionary tale of pride. I know through my Old Testament survey course that the book was almost left out of the cannon because it never mentions God and that the main purpose of the book is to show how God is faithful in preserving His people, but it shows how pride affects people. Pay attention to Haman when reading Esther. Haman is made the right-hand man to the king by the king himself. He is over everyone in the vast Persian Empire. We are shown how he reacts when one man (Mordecai; uncle to Esther and a Jew) does not show him the respect he feels he is owed. His pride is so badly bruised, he schemes to destroy an entire race of people; the Jewish people. His plan fails and at the end, Haman is hung on the gallows he built to use on Mordecai.

I see the underlining story as an affirmation of what the Solomon wrote in Proverbs 16:18 (Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.). Haman was so prideful that because of one slight, he wanted to end an entire people group. That’s extreme, but can we say we are any different? We all have some level of pride that we must give over to God especially those of us who are in the forefront of a ministry. We can lose sight of what our function is. The function of any Christian (pastor, deacon, Sunday school teacher, etc.) is to direct people to God through His Son Jesus Christ. We start to think that we are doing this or we are doing that but in reality we aren’t doing anything; God is the One who is doing it.

Part of me picking up my cross daily and dying is giving my pride over to God. Haman is an extreme example of what pride can lead to so be mindful of it. Pride caused Satan to fall; it lead Adam and Eve to sin; and it can destroy you. Take a moment and read through what I call the “Pride Test.” I found this somewhere a number of years ago. If you can yes to anyone of these items, ask God to help you die to pride.

Pride comes as we. . .
• Think about ourselves
• Talk about ourselves
• Use the personal pronoun “I” as often as possible in our conversations
• Mirror ourselves continually in the opinion of others
• As we listen greedily to what people say about us
• Insist on consideration and respect
• Demand agreement with our own views on everything
• Sulk if people are not grateful to us for favors show them
• When we never forget a service rendered
It comes when we. . .
• Expect to be appreciated
• When we are suspicious of others
• Are sensitive to slights
• Are overcome with jealousy and envy
• Never forget a criticism
• Trust nobody but ourselves

You Never Know

Over the weekend, my family and I were in Missouri. We flew back on Monday and our plane left Kansas City’s airport an hour late so we missed our connection by only minutes. It didn’t look good for all of us to make the finally flight out. Teresa and Ripley had seats but I was on stand-by. As I sat waiting for someone to take the option to sit off I was praying but in the back of my head I was thinking the devil was attacking because God did do some great stuff in our Missouri trip. As I prayed, I trusted God to have His way in this. As the last people were boarding, I stood with Teresa and Ripley waiting. The US Airway gate personnel were great; they were rooting that someone would miss the plane so we could all go together. The ladies literally counted down to the when they could give the last two seats to me and a young man and as soon as the time it 7:50pm, they told us to go and shut the door behind us. Teresa and I were rejoicing in the Lord and little did I know so was the young man.

Teresa and Ripley sat a row ahead of me and I sat with the young man. We started talking and I found out that Nathan (the young man) was on his way to interview for a summer internship with an engineering company. He is a junior at Purdue University but wanted to use his engineering degree to be a missionary. As we spoke, I learned that he was saved in middle school and is a member of a church (a Baptist Church) that focuses on reaching out to the international students of Purdue. He’s a shape young man. Please keep him in your prayers.

As I was encouraging Nathan in his calling to missions, Teresa was ministering to a young lady who was traveling alone with a 23 month old boy. He was cute but a hand full. Ripley was being so good so Teresa could help the lady. The young lady was so thankful.

What I thought was a satanic attack ended up being a ministry opportunity that Teresa and I would not have had if not for the delay. I young missionary to be was encouraged in the Lord and a young mother was helped by a stranger. You never know when or how God will use you. We are told to always be ready to give our testimony to others and what better way to share our testimony about Christ by living it out. You never know.

No Need To Fear Because God Is Here

My family and I are praying about a possible new adventure. We are slowly walking through the discussions and as we do, we are praying and seeking God’s direction and guidance. I have a group of people that I talk with for wise council. I know I can count on their wisdom and their prayers. One such person sent me a lengthy e-mail full of wise words and encouragement. One section made me smile; he writes:

“The only reason I take the time to type such a long e-mail and share these details with you is because I have had to apply these points to my personal life -- and each time I needed to make an important decision, and I was trying to listen to God, it was very frightening! . . . I wanted you to know that if you are scared, that you are not alone. God provides many examples of faithful people who listened to Him and followed Him - no matter what the cost.”

Before I received this e-mail, I had been praying through the fear of the uncertainty of this possible new adventure for my family and me. As I pray through the fear, I have Bible passages come to mind to encourage me and strengthen me. Passages like:

“. . . I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” – Matthew 28:20b

“For God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” – 2 Timothy 1:7

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.” – Ephesians 2:10

“But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.” – 1 Corinthians 1:27

These scripture passages encourage me as I seek the face of God. I know that what is uncertain to me is known to Him; what is unknown to me has already been accomplished by Him. Having just finished reading through the book of Acts and seeing men who were simple and uneducated do what was asked of them and changed the world showed me that this simple man can do whatever God is directing me to do because He will be the One doing it and I’m only a work glove He has chosen to use. Since God indwells me, I am never ever alone. There is no need to fear the uncertainty of the road ahead because God has already traveled this road and knows the way. There is no need to fear because He indwells me and since He is in me, I am never alone; and since I am never alone, why should I fear?

Thank you Holy Spirit for encouraging me and guiding me as I seek God the Father’s prefect will for my family and me. No matter the outcome; I pray the result will bring you honor and glory. That is my main purpose in this life.