Sunday, July 24, 2005

Pride

God does not denigrate pride in its positive sense. The Bible has a hundred ways to illustrate the quiet feeling of competence that lies behind one's ability to do what he knows he has to do and can do.

The apostle Paul's ministry was grounded on the assurance that Christ would help him finish what he had started. If that is what is meant by "pride", we should certainly cultivate it and thank God for it.

Pride in the dictionary sense of conceited and overbearing behaviour, it brings our the worst in antisocial relationships. Such pride is not the answer to the human problem; it is the human problem...all of the major transgressions to inflict woe upon the human race---fear, greed, cruelty, lust, unbelief--- can be traced to run away pride.

As to whether or not our pride is sin, the answer ultimately rests with each of us. Christian knows the condition of his own heart. He measures it by the Word of God.

Proverbs 11:2 When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom.

1 John 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

Tuesday, July 19, 2005

My hope is built on nothing less, than Jesus' blood and righteousness.
I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus name,
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand; all other ground is sinking sand.

When darkness veils His lovely face, I rest on His unchanging grace;
In every high and stormy gale, my anchor holds within the veil.
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand; all other ground is sinking sand.

His oath, His covenant, His blood, support me in the whelming flood;
When all around is all my soul gives way, He then is all my hope and stay.
On Christ, the solid Rock I stand; all other ground is sinking sand.

When He shall come with trumpet sound, O may I then in Him be found;
Dressed in His righteousness alone, faultless to stand before the throne.
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand, all other ground is sinking sand.

Wednesday, July 13, 2005

In Jesus' Arms

Safe in the arms of Jesus,
Safe on His gentle breast,
There, by His love o'ershaded,
Sweetly my soul shall rest.

Hark! tis the voice of angels,
Borne in a song to me,
Over the fields of glory,
Over the jasper sea.

Safe in the arms of Jesus
Safe on His gentle breast,
There, by His love o'ershaded,
Sweetly my soul shall rest...

Psalms 108:7 God hath spoken in his holiness; I will rejoice, I will divide Shechem, and mete out the valley of Succoth.