Good Morning, Lord . . . Can We Talk?: A Year of Scriptural Meditations

INTRODUCTION

B

EFORE YOU GET STARTED

on this journey with me, let me tell you what prompted me to write this one-year devotional book. I’m a real believer in spending some time every day doing what’s important rather than doing what’s urgent. I’ve made that a priority in my life.

My wife and I have been married since June of 1955. Both of us were young, and neither of us knew much about marriage—or life, for that matter. But we knew this for sure: we really loved each other, and we couldn’t bear the thought of spending our lives with anyone else for the rest of our years. So we married young and not only grew up together but grew closer from one year to the next.

That didn’t just happen; it was the result of setting aside time for each other. Time to listen—really hear each other. And also time to talk—to open up and speak our minds. Those times also included time to think—to think about what the other person was saying and, equally important, what the other person was feeling. And then there were times we’d pray with and for each other. Occasionally, there would be laughter—loud, spontaneous laughter—other times, there would be tears. Those times together have become the defining moments of our day.

We’ve spent intentional time connecting almost every morning throughout our marriage. We began our day with each other when our children were infants, while they were growing up, after they married and left the nest, and even when grandchildren started to fill our home with their delightful lives. To this very day, we still sit together every morning, mainly just to be with each other, to listen, to talk, to think together. And the result? A depth of love for each other and a true understanding of each other that only time together like that through the years can provide. Every morning we’re there—together. We put whatever is urgent on hold as we address only what is important.

This has enabled us to cultivate a bond in our relationship that is both meaningful and unbreakable.

So when I sat down to write a book that might help others choose to do what’s important instead of what’s urgent, I realized that this would be my opportunity to address the kinds of things that Cynthia and I have been spending every morning talking about over the course of more than sixty years. The only difference is that you’ll be spending these important moments with the Lord, listening to Him and talking with Him as you seek to develop a relationship with Him that is deep—hopefully deeper than it has ever been before.

I’d like you to think of these brief times with Him as very special yet comfortable, relaxing opportunities for the two of you simply to meet together. That’s what prompted me to give this book its title, Good Morning, Lord . . . Can We Talk? As you meet and talk, I hope you will take time to listen well. It’s amazing how much you can glean from quiet moments together, especially when it’s the Lord who is speaking to you!

I’m grateful for the sensitive presence and assistance of my longtime friend Mark Tobey, who served as my editor as I was shaping my thoughts for this book. I knew from his help with other literary projects that he had just the touch I would need when trying to squeeze ideas into just the right words. Thank you, Mark, for the time and commitment you invested in these pages. Thank you for caring so much that each line be crafted well.

I should also express my thanks to many of my friends at Tyndale House Publishers for encouraging me to write this book and for their assistance in accomplishing the task. I am especially grateful for senior acquisition editor Jon Farrar, as well as Erin Gwynne, Kara Leonino, Jennifer Schindler, and Stephanie Rische, who have helped take the grind out of such an extensive literary goal. I extend my heartfelt appreciation to each of you.

Now that the book is in your hands, I hope it will become your close companion. Just as Cynthia and I have set aside time each morning to be together, I hope you will do the same with the Lord through these pages.

Let me urge you not to miss one day in the year ahead as you read and think, ponder and pray your way through the book. Do your best to make each meeting with the Lord the defining moment of your day. Don’t hurry; take your time as you meet quietly with Him, sharing what’s on your heart, and then listen carefully as He responds to you—not just at that moment, but at random times through the rest of your day.

Hopefully, by the end of the year, you and He will have cultivated a bond in your relationship that is both meaningful and unbreakable.

Chuck Swindoll

Frisco, Texas

January

1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9   10   11   12   13   14   15   16   17   18   19   20   21   22   23   24   25   26   27   28   29   30   31

January 1

What’s God up to in Your Life?

Romans 8:28

O

UR WORLD HAS

become a large, impersonal, busy affair.

Social media and the technological age have caused us to become alienated from each other. We’re connected but not in community. No longer do neighbors visit across the backyard fence, chat in the driveway, or catch up on the kids at the mailbox. Those days are long gone. Our well-manicured front lawns and meticulously landscaped perimeters have become modern-day moats that keep barbarians at bay. Hoarding and flaunting have replaced sharing and caring. It’s like we are occupying common space but have no common interests, as if we’re on an elevator with rules such as: No talking, smiling, or eye contact allowed without written consent of the management.

Painful though it may be for us to admit, we’re losing touch with one another. The motivation to help, to encourage, yes, to serve our fellow human beings is waning. People have even observed crimes in progress but refused to help so as not to be involved! Our foundational values are getting lost in these confusing days. And yet it is these things that form the essentials of a happy and fulfilled life.

Listen to God’s vision for our lives:

We know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.

ROMANS 8:28

Maybe you’ve never stopped to consider what His purpose is. Briefly put, God is committed to one major objective in your life: to conform you into the image of His Son. One of the many ways I’ve seen Him do that is through interaction with others.

He’s up to something by placing you in a small group at church with a family with a special-needs son, or forcing you to work closely with an office manager whose life is coming unglued. Those interactions may be awkward, even unpleasant at times, but they could be what God’s up to in forming you into the image of His Son.

Consider today how you might join God in that purpose. Make yourself available as a dispenser of His kindness, a giver of His grace to someone who might need both.

January 2

A Servant, Not a Celebrity

Mark 10:45

E

VER WONDER

if Jesus would have agreed to star in His own reality TV show? Let’s allow Him to answer in His own words:

The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.

MARK 10:45

No mumbo jumbo. Just a straight-from-the-shoulder response. Jesus came to be a servant. Being a celebrity wasn’t in His DNA.

Nothing is more refreshing than a servant’s heart and a giving spirit. This is especially true when such Christlike qualities are displayed in a person tagged as celebrity. Years ago, my wife and I attended the National Religious Broadcasters convention in Washington, DC. That year one of the main speakers was Colonel James B. Irwin, a former astronaut who was part of the Apollo 15 crew who had walked on the moon. That made him famous. He spoke of the thrill connected with leaving this planet and seeing it shrink in size. He mentioned watching earthrise one day . . . and thinking how privileged he was to be a member of that unique team. On the flight back to Earth, it hit him that many would consider him an international celebrity because of what he’d experienced.

Humbled by the awesome goodness of God, Colonel Irwin shared his true feelings, which went something like this:

As I was returning to Earth, I realized that I was a servant—not a celebrity. So, I am here as God’s servant on planet Earth to share what I have experienced, that others might know the glory of God.

I love that! God allowed this man to break loose from the small cage of Earth, to reveal to and instill in him the high value of becoming a servant, not a celebrity.

Caught up in the fast-lane treadmill of the twenty-first century—making mad dashes through airports, meeting deadlines, homeschooling high-achieving kids, and coping with the stress of people’s demands mixed with our own high expectations—it’s easy to lose sight of our primary calling as followers of Christ. But let’s not forget our goal. Instead, let’s focus on becoming servants, not celebrities.

January 3

The Way up Is Down

Matthew 20:21, 25-28

J

OURNEY BACK WITH ME

for a moment to one of the many scenes that demonstrated just how ordinary Jesus’ disciples were. What makes this account interesting is that mother of two of the disciples. She’s Mrs. Zebedee, wife of a Galilean fisherman and mother of James and John. Her bold request still makes me smile:

In your Kingdom, please let my two sons sit in places of honor next to you, one on your right and the other on your left.

MATTHEW 20:21

Isn’t that typical? Can’t you just picture this bold Jewish mother taking over the meeting and venturing her whopping request? She wanted her sons to have prominent places in the new kingdom start-up. Now don’t be too tough on Mama Zebedee. She’s proud of her two sons . . . obviously! Her motive was probably pure. But the occasion presented a teachable moment Jesus used to show what greatness looks like in God’s eyes.

Jesus said:

You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.

MATTHEW 20:25-28

My friend and ministry mentor, the late Howard Hendricks, often said: "The church doesn’t need any more leaders—what the church needs today is followers!" I wholeheartedly agree.

In God’s Kingdom, the way up is always down. Next time you call a meeting and feel tempted to sit at the head of the boardroom table, consider sitting somewhere in the middle. You’ll not only model Christ’s example of humility, you may create a teaching moment of your own.

January 4

How’s Your Attitude?

Philippians 2:3-4

I

LOVE THE STORY OF

a sea captain who, while navigating his ship through a storm, found himself on a collision course with what he thought was a large vessel in the distance. He ordered the approaching vessel to alter its course ten degrees south. The reply came back: "Alter your course ten degrees north. Incensed, the captain shot back, Alter your course ten degrees south. This is the Captain! I am a battleship! The reply came back: Alter your course ten degrees north. This is ensign third class. I am a lighthouse!"

It’s the attitude that is most important. We can choose to preach ourselves and pull rank and risk a shipwreck of all our relationships. Or we can choose to avoid disaster, realize there are some things we simply do not know, and humbly alter our course.

Perhaps the finest model of humility, other than Christ Himself, was that young Jew from Tarsus who was radically transformed from a strong-willed Pharisee named Saul to a bond servant of Jesus Christ called Paul.

It’s possible you have the notion that the apostle Paul rammed his way through life like a fully loaded battleship at sea. Blasting and pounding toward objectives, he was just too important to worry about those who got in his way. Frankly, when he was Saul that pretty much summed up his approach. So, what happened? He met the Savior—and that changed everything . . . especially his attitude toward others.

Take a moment to reflect on Paul’s advice:

Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.

PHILIPPIANS 2:3-4

That’s more like it!

Do you know that your attitude today could very well determine if someone around you resists God’s invitation to bow before Him in repentance? Maybe it’s time to stand down and defer rather than stand up tall and pull rank. Perhaps this would be a good opportunity for you to reconsider your approach to the situation you face today. Before you make another move or say another word, bow before the Lord in prayer.

Ask Him to make you more like Paul than Saul.

January 5

Who’s on First?

Colossians 1:15-16, 18

I

N MANY CHURCHES,

Christians tend to get so caught up in a success-and-size race that the primary calling of following Jesus gets lost in the journey. We have skidded into a pattern where the haves—the most influential or financially successful individuals in life—and not the have-nots call the shots. Truth be told, it is difficult to follow when you’re used to being out front leading the pack.

Maybe I need to clarify what I mean. In the body of Christ, there is one and only one Head. Christ Jesus is Lord. Take a moment to reflect on these magnificent words:

Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation, for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. . . . Christ is also the head of the church, which is his body. He is the beginning, supreme over all who rise from the dead.

COLOSSIANS 1:15-16, 18

No human being dare take that position. A man named Diotrephes, mentioned in 3 John 1:9-10, attempted to do so and was openly rebuked by the apostle. Diotrephes’s account is a warning to anyone who desires to become the church boss.

It may be a board member, a pastor, a teacher, a musician, or a former officer or former pastor in a church. No matter who, the Diotrephes mentality has no place in the church. Diotrephes wanted to be first. But that place is already taken in the body of Christ—and in the home and in the marriage and anywhere else where Christ is named and ordained to be the rightful leader. Only Christ is the Head. All the rest of us are in the class Jesus modeled: followers.

I urge you to bow before the Lord and ask Him to examine the attitude of your heart today, especially if you’re in a place of leadership within your local church or ministry. Be willing to admit your secret ambition to be first and then humbly surrender to the authority of Christ. Trust me: everyone among whom you serve will be grateful for your change of heart.

January 6

Where the Real Power Resides

1 Corinthians 2:1-5

T

HE GREAT APOSTLE

P

AUL

was just like you and me. He had a love for God blended with feet of clay. Great passion . . . and great weakness.

The longer I thought about this blend, the more evidence emerged from Scripture to support it. Read Paul’s words to the Corinthians:

When I first came to you, dear brothers and sisters, I didn’t use lofty words and impressive wisdom to tell you God’s secret plan. For I decided that while I was with you I would forget everything except Jesus Christ, the one who was crucified. I came to you in weakness—timid and trembling. And my message and my preaching were very plain. Rather than using clever and persuasive speeches, I relied only on the power of the Holy Spirit. I did this so you would trust not in human wisdom but in the power of God.

1 CORINTHIANS 2:1-5

Aw, the guy is just being modest, you answer. No, not when you compare these words with the popular opinion of Paul in his day:

Some say, Paul’s letters are demanding and forceful, but in person he is weak, and his speeches are worthless!

2 CORINTHIANS 10:10

Clearly the apostle Paul struggled with human weakness just as you and I do. He didn’t have it all together—he wasn’t perfect—and (best of all) he didn’t attempt to hide it! He admitted to his friends in Corinth that he was weak, fearful, and even trembling when he stood before them—and that he relied completely on the Spirit’s power. I admire such transparency. He didn’t want the people he served to continue to trust in their own resources. He wanted them convinced of the power and provision of God.

Feeling powerless in your own weakness? Frustrated by your inability to bring something to pass? Follow Paul’s example. Embrace your weakness and put your trust in the Holy Spirit. That’s where the real power resides.

January 7

An Enduring Mercy

1 Timothy 1:12-14

E

VEN TOWARD

the end of his life, the apostle Paul had not gotten over the great mercy he had received from Christ:

I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength to do his work. He considered me trustworthy and appointed me to serve him, even though I used to blaspheme the name of Christ. In my insolence, I persecuted his people. But God had mercy on me because I did it in ignorance and unbelief. Oh, how generous and gracious our Lord was! He filled me with the faith and love that come from Christ Jesus.

1 TIMOTHY 1:12-14

The longer Paul served Christ, the more generous and gracious he became. He never recovered from the mercy he had been shown by the Lord. In fact, it transformed him from a rigid, rule-demanding Pharisee into a humble and gracious servant of the Savior.

How often I hear from older believers something like this: That’s just who I am. It’s how I was raised. I’m too old to change now.

How sad. That was not Paul’s experience. The mercy and kindness shown to him by the Lord at his conversion made him a different person. And the older he got, the more tender mercies mellowed his life and generosity marked his ministry.

When he picked up his stylus to pen a note to young Timothy, his beloved disciple who would one day succeed him in ministry, his message in his sixties remained just as compelling as it was decades earlier: I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength to do his work.

I love that. No mention of retirement or the prospect of spending his remaining years chilling at a Sinai desert resort. Not Paul. He never recovered from the mercy he received from Christ.

The question is, "Have you?"

January 8

Absolute Honesty

2 Corinthians 4:1-2

L

ET’S THINK ABOUT

an essential mark of following Christ: absolute honesty.

Remember these words?

Therefore, since God in his mercy has given us this new way, we never give up. We reject all shameful deeds and underhanded methods. We don’t try to trick anyone or distort the word of God. We tell the truth before God, and all who are honest know this.

2 CORINTHIANS 4:1-2

And how about these?

You know how badly we had been treated at Philippi just before we came to you and how much we suffered there. Yet our God gave us the courage to declare his Good News to you boldly, in spite of great opposition. So you can see we were not preaching with any deceit or impure motives or trickery. For we speak as messengers approved by God to be entrusted with the Good News. Our purpose is to please God, not people. He alone examines the motives of our hearts.

1 THESSALONIANS 2:2-4

Paul’s words offer a bracing tonic for our age of duplicity. Honesty has a beautiful and refreshing simplicity about it . . . as do followers of Christ who embrace such Spirit-empowered virtues. No ulterior motives. No hidden agenda. In Him was an absence of hypocrisy, duplicity, political games, and verbal superficiality.

As honesty and integrity characterize our lives, there will be no need to manipulate others. We’ll come to the place where all the substitutes will turn us off once we cultivate a taste for the authentic.

Think about becoming more like Jesus. Pray about becoming more like Him. Be real—that’s what I want to get across. Be who you are deep within and then allow the Lord God to develop within you a style of following Christ that draws others to Him.

January 9

I, Me, Mine, Myself

Matthew 16:23-24

T

HOSE FOUR WORDS

stood out in bold print.

They appeared as if they were forming an enormous monument, each letter seemingly chiseled out of granite. At the base of this strange monument were hundreds, perhaps thousands, of people with their arms stretched high, as if worshiping at a shrine. And then, in very small letters, this caption appeared at the bottom of the editorial cartoon: Speaking of American cults . . .

Surrounding the borders of this picture were four familiar lines from well-known commercials:

Have it your way.

Do yourself a favor.

You owe it to yourself.

You deserve a break today.

Jab, jab. Twist, twist. That kind of stuff cuts deeply. Because it is so terribly true. Yet we constantly applaud the I-me-mine-myself philosophy in subtle as well as overt ways. Self-help books sell into the millions. Society insists on elevating the mantra look out for number one at all cost.

Jesus turned to Peter and said, . . . You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God’s. Then Jesus said to his disciples, If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me.

MATTHEW 16:23-24

That could not be any clearer, don’t you agree? Are you striving to promote your perspective, demand that your way be accepted, or your voice be heard above others? Are you in the middle of a conflict with someone you love that, unless one of you stands down and defers to the other, is only going to intensify and cause lasting damage? Listen to Jesus. It’s time to turn from selfishness and strife as you embrace the way of the Cross. Lay down your rights. And leave the striving to Him.

January 10

The Forgotten Side of Success

1 Peter 5:5-7

M

AYBE WE SHOULD CONFESS

that one reason we find it so hard to set selfishness aside and adopt the spirit of a servant is that we’re driven by dreams of success. We want to be winners.

Curiously, however, most people admit they never realize what they truly desire in their pursuit of success: contentment, fulfillment, satisfaction, and relief. On the contrary, the roads that are supposed to lead to success are not only rocky; they’re maddening.

Culture demands that you work longer hours, push further ahead, let nothing hinder your quest—not your marriage or family, not your convictions or conscience, not your health or relationships.

At the risk of sounding ultra-simplistic, I’d like to offer some counsel that stands 180 degrees in contrast to all the above. My suggestions will never appear in the Wall Street Journal or in the latest issue of Fast Company magazine. But they do represent a philosophy supported in God’s Word. Peter wrote them way back in the first century.

You who are younger must accept the authority of the elders. And all of you, dress yourselves in humility as you relate to one another, for

"God opposes the proud

but gives grace to the humble."

So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.

1 PETER 5:5-7

Remarkably, those words were actually penned by Peter—the once burly, self-determined fisherman from Galilee. Yet from the sting of failure followed by the gentle mercy of Christ, he finally learned the wonder of obedience.

Let’s think of it as the forgotten side of success. It’s also the reward that comes to those who wish to develop the heart of a servant through the pain of surrender.

January 11

Appraising Your Life

Ecclesiastes 12:6-7

I

T’S BEEN A WHILE SINCE

you took stock of where you are going, hasn’t it? And how about an evaluation of the kids? Or your marriage? Or your own future? You know what I mean: trimming off the fat of lazy thinking and taking a lean, hard look at your remaining years.

As I write, I’m now in my eighties. If Christ doesn’t return (and I don’t die in the meantime), I figure I’ll keep going until I’m at least one hundred! How old are you? How many years lie between now and when you turn sixty-five or seventy years of age? It’s about time you came to terms with your future, isn’t it?

If that doesn’t grab you, consider your family in the next decade. Cynthia and I feel it was only last week when our home resembled a cross between Grand Central Station, the Indianapolis 500, and the San Diego Zoo! That was long ago. We now find ourselves with ten grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. It’s amazing how quickly all that happened. As the old newsreel used to say, Time marches on.

Consider Solomon’s wise counsel:

Remember your Creator now while you are young, before the silver cord of life snaps and the golden bowl is broken. Don’t wait until the water jar is smashed at the spring and the pulley is broken at the well. For then the dust will return to the earth, and the spirit will return to God who gave it.

ECCLESIASTES 12:6-7

For what are you asking the Lord on behalf of your children and grandchildren? I challenge you to stop long enough to make an honest appraisal of your life. By the way, don’t just think about it . . . get alone and write down your thoughts, your dreams, your aspirations. Refuse to let tonight’s television programs or some insignificant activity interrupt this necessary discipline. If you put it off, you may lose the urgency you’re feeling right now.

January 12

Learning to Be Last

Matthew 20:26-28

I’

LL NEVER FORGET A TRIP

I took with my older son to shoot the rapids on the Rogue River in Oregon. While our group was receiving instructions from the guide, I began to study the canoes. Some were old and worn, but a few were obviously new. Being selfish, I wanted Curt and me to get the new ones, so I whispered in his ear:

Curt, start moving over to the left.

Why?

Just do as I say, Son. The two canoes on the end are new. Let’s get ’em.

He cooperated. We got the new ones. I handled it so smoothly, nobody even knew. The older ones were probably just as good, but they were old.

After canoeing, on the way back to our campsite, all fifteen of us were packed like sardines in this old van. Without warning, BOOM! A blowout. All our gear had to come out to get to the spare tire. Then that beast of a van had to be jacked up—a hot, dirty job. Guess who directed traffic instead of helping to change the tire? Yours truly. As I recall, not one car passed us on that country road during the entire episode.

Why did I do it? Because I’m selfish, plain and simple.

You see, I learned a lot about looking out for self in school; I perfected it in the Marine Corps; and I developed real finesse in seminary, while learning to be a minister. Hey, this is the profession where a guy can get away with it and hardly ever be criticized for it. Who in the world is going to point a finger at a man of the cloth? Who’s willing to touch God’s anointed (our favorite title) and risk an advanced case of leprosy?

Listen to Jesus, who offers a better way:

Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.

MATTHEW 20:26-28

That’s more like it! Let’s follow His example.

January 13

The Origin of Self

Genesis 3:7

T

O FULLY UNDERSTAND

the battle against self we must go back, way back, to that ancient scene pictured for us in the second and third chapters of Genesis: the Garden of Eden. What a splendid setting! Beautiful beyond description, a perfect, pollution-free atmosphere, luxurious foliage, fragrant flowers, crystal-clear water—that Garden would make Tahiti look like a pigsty by comparison.

On top of all the physical beauty, there was absolute innocence. Zero sin. Which means that Adam and Eve had a relationship that was free of hang-ups and pushback. The last verse in Genesis 2 verifies that: Now the man and his wife were both naked, but they felt no shame (Genesis 2:25).

Naked. Laid bare. Open. No secrets. Not just physically but emotionally as well. That explains why they were not ashamed. There existed in that pristine place a remarkable openness, a lack of self-consciousness in each other’s presence. Talk about the ideal marriage! Their discussions, their actions, all their conversations were nondefensive, unguarded, and with no focus on self.

How could it be? No sin. Therefore, no selfishness. Until . . . you guessed it.

Enter the devil with his alluring offer, and exit innocence with its pleasurable benefits (see Genesis 3:1-6). Remember the result?

At that moment their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness. So they sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves.

GENESIS 3:7

Don’t miss what that says about their eyes. They were opened. There was this shocking realization they were naked. Seems amazing to us, doesn’t it? You and I couldn’t be more aware of any time when we are naked.

But remember the difference. Suddenly, humanity became self-conscious. Adam and Eve had never known those feelings before. You and I have never known anything else.

Sin ushered in the reign of self-awareness, self-concern, and selfishness. And it all started with willful disregard for God’s command.

Are you willing to submit to the gracious scrutiny of God’s Word and His Spirit today? The only way to break the grip of selfish living is to surrender to the will and purposes of God. You, and everyone around you, will be so glad you did.

January 14

Playing Second Fiddle

Philippians 2:3-5

I

REMEMBER READING OF

Leonard Bernstein, the late, legendary conductor of the New York Philharmonic, giving an insightful answer in an informal interview. Following a televised performance, one admirer asked: Mr. Bernstein, what is the most difficult instrument to play?

With quick wit and without even a thought he replied:

Second fiddle. I can get plenty of first violinists, but to find one who plays second violin with as much enthusiasm . . . now that’s a problem. And yet if no one plays second, we have no harmony.

Such profound wisdom in the maestro’s words!

Yet Jesus became the ultimate second fiddler in God’s symphony of grace in which humility became the main motif. That’s why Paul could write:

Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.

PHILIPPIANS 2:3-5

I’ve found over the years that the most important virtue to be formed in me by God’s gracious Spirit is a spirit of genuine humility. It’s the absence of self-promotion, or insisting on having my way, or that my voice be heard and revered above the voices of others. Humility keeps the gears of my marriage and the relationships with my children and those I work with well-oiled and operating smoothly.

But more importantly, when I embrace the humility of Christ, He increases and shines brightly through me.

In simplest terms, Jesus told us to serve and to give. His life builds a case for unselfish living . . . for being willing to give it all in honor of Him.

Are you ready to play second fiddle to Christ? I can already hear the music starting. It’s beautiful.

January 15

Just Chill about You

Romans 12:3

I

LIKE THE TONGUE-IN-CHEEK

definition of philosophers one of my seminary professors would occasionally use. It’s classic: Philosophers are people who talk about something they don’t understand and then make you think it’s your fault!

Lots of philosophies are floating around, and most of them are downright confusing. Interestingly, those that are clear enough to be understood usually end up focusing full attention on the individual. Consider a few of them:

Education says, Be resourceful; expand yourself!

Psychology says, Be confident; assert yourself!

Religion says, Be good; conform yourself!

Epicureanism says, Be sensuous; enjoy yourself!

Materialism says, Be satisfied; please yourself!

Pride says, Be superior; promote yourself!

Humanism says, Be capable; believe in yourself!

Philanthropy says, Be generous; release yourself!

Yourself, yourself, yourself. We’re up to our gills with it! Do something either for yourself or with yourself or to yourself. How very different from Jesus’ model and message! He offers rather a fresh and much-needed invitation to our me-first generation. Jesus says, in effect, Be a servant . . . give to others! (see Mark 10:45). In today’s vernacular, we’d say, Just chill! Now that’s a philosophy anybody can understand. And, without question, it is attainable. Here’s how God sees it:

Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us.

ROMANS 12:3

Know what all that means? Let’s stop thinking so highly of ourselves, our gifts, our contributions, and our abilities. Stop permitting two strong tendencies—selfishness and conceit—to control you! Let nothing that either of these words suggests win a hearing. Replace selfishness and conceit with humility of mind. That’s the ticket.

January 16

Humility and Inferiority

Romans 12:10

P

ART OF HUMILITY IS HAVING

a preset mentality that determines thoughts like this:

I care about those around me.

Why do I have to be first? Today I’m going to help someone else win.

It’s my sincere desire to curb my competitive tendencies and turn that energy into encouraging at least one other person.

Now, before we get neck deep into this unselfish lifestyle, we need to determine if it is, in fact, promoted in Scripture. Does the Bible come right up front and encourage living like this? I’ll let you determine the answer. Read this New Testament statement slowly . . . and don’t skip one word!

Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.

ROMANS 12:10

Those words (there are many others) have a rare ring to them, don’t they? In fact, some who read those verses might misunderstand and think I’m advocating inferiority. For your sake, two more biblical passages are needed:

I don’t consider myself inferior in any way to these super apostles who teach such things. . . . You ought to be writing commendations for me, for I am not at all inferior to these super apostles, even though I am nothing at all.

2 CORINTHIANS 11:5; 12:11

Authentic humility in no way should be confused with incompetence or lack of assurance. As a matter of fact, it is doubtful that anyone who wrestles with an unhealthy self-image can correctly and adequately give to others.

Inferiority and unselfishness cannot coexist. There was nothing inferior about Jesus Christ, the Creator of the