By Elizabeth Prata
SYNOPSIS: In this discernment essay I critique Beth Moore as an example, arguing false teachers persist by God’s design to test, refine, and reveal believers, warning that longevity, sincerity, zeal, and eloquence do not confirm theological truth.
Continue reading “Beyond Zeal and Sincerity: Measuring Truth Biblically”By Elizabeth Prata
In 2 Peter 3:15-16, Peter wrote that there are some things Paul wrote that are hard to understand. The unstable distort those things. Perhaps the Holy Spirit did that on purpose so that it would weed out who truly sought understanding and who likes to find a chink and crowbar it further apart in order to insert their own wrong interpretation (so as to lead followers astray). This is my speculation. After all, He sends false teachers in order to test us (2 John 9-11, Deuteronomy 13:3, etc.).
But the Holy Spirit’s inspiration of God’s word through the minds and personalities of the Bible writers is remarkable for so many reasons, but for my purposes today, for its honesty.
There are hard things to understand in the Bible. The following phrase is one of them: “covenant of salt”. It is mentioned a few times in the Old Testament.
GotQuestions has some ideas, also giving a historical context as to the importance of salt. Phrases we use even today harken back to the days when salt was a precious commodity. For example, GotQuestions wrote-
There is more to salt than meets the taste buds. Salt has been used in many cultures as a valuable commodity. The word salary comes from an ancient word meaning “salt-money,” referring to a Roman soldier’s allowance for the purchase of salt. Someone who earns his pay is still said to be “worth his salt.”
Salt was used in that culture as part of a legally binding contract. That notion was carried forward into the Old Testament Law. King Abijah mentioned it in 2 Chronicles 13:5,
Do you not know that the LORD God of Israel gave the rule over Israel forever to David and his sons by a covenant of salt?
The Israelites were commanded to use salt as part of the grain offering and reminded not to forget that part of the offering, ever-
Every grain offering of yours, moreover, you shall season with salt, so that the salt of the covenant of your God will not be lacking from your grain offering; with all your offerings you shall offer salt. (Leviticus 2:13).
Matthew Henry on Leviticus 2:13, “Salt is required in all their offerings, v. 13. The altar was the table of the Lord; and therefore, salt being always set on our tables, God would have it always used at his. It is called the salt of the covenant, because, as men confirmed their covenants with each other by eating and drinking together, at all which collations salt was used, so God, by accepting his people’s gifts and feasting them upon his sacrifices, supping with them and they with him (Rev. 3:20), did confirm his covenant with them.”
Among the ancients salt was a symbol of friendship. The salt for the sacrifice was not brought by the offerers, but was provided at the public charge, as the wood was, Ezra 7:20–22. And there was a chamber in the court of the temple called the chamber of salt, in which they laid it up. Can that which is unsavoury be eaten without salt? God would hereby intimate to them that their sacrifices in themselves were unsavoury.
The saints, who are living sacrifices to God, must have salt in themselves, for every sacrifice must be salted with salt (Mk. 9:49, 50), and our speech must be always with grace (Col. 4:6), so must all our religious performances be seasoned with that salt. Christianity is the salt of the earth.
Henry, M. (1994). Matthew Henry’s commentary on the whole Bible: complete and unabridged in one volume (p. 153). Hendrickson.
Again the salt covenant is mentioned in Numbers-
Numbers 18:19, “All the offerings of the holy gifts, which the sons of Israel offer to the LORD, I have given to you and your sons and your daughters with you, as a permanent allotment. It is a permanent covenant of salt before the LORD to you and your descendants with you.“
JFB commentary on Numbers 18:19, “it is a covenant of salt—that is, a perpetual ordinance. This figurative form of expression was evidently founded on the conservative property of salt, which keeps meat from corruption; and hence it became an emblem of inviolability and permanence. It is a common phrase among Oriental people, who consider the eating of salt a pledge of fidelity, binding them in a covenant of friendship. Hence the partaking of the altar meats, which were appropriated to the priests on condition of their services and of which salt formed a necessary accompaniment, was naturally called “a covenant of salt” (Lev 2:13).
Jamieson, R., Fausset, A. R., & Brown, D. (1997). Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (Vol. 1, pp. 108–109). Logos Research Systems, Inc.
Here are a few resources on the fascinating topic of salt in the Bible!
TableTalk: Salt
There is a book of the history of salt by Mark Kurlansky. I thought was pretty interesting: Salt: A World History.
Finally, Mark 9:50 says,
“Salt is good; but if the salt becomes unsalty, with what will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”
By Elizabeth Prata
Resurrection Sunday has just passed. I celebrated the monumental work of our Lord in His redemption of us to the Father. He will present a spotless bride thanks to Him living a sinless life, becoming sin for us, dying on the cross after exhausting God’s wrath for those sins. He paid the penalty we were due.
that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless.(Ephesians 5:27).
But now He has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy, unblemished, and blameless in His presence— (Colossians 1:22).
The resurrection is a gateway to eternal life! And now our sins are as far away as the east is from the west!
As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our wrongdoings from us. (Psalm 103:2).
The Bible is so perfect in every way, so detailed and complex, but so clear a child could understand it, that there is a reason it is written ‘east from the west’ and not as far as the north is from the south. There is a difference between those cardinal directions.
You can travel north to the Pole. But once passing the North Pole you are now traveling south. However, if you travel east, there is never a time when you are now traveling west. It is endless. You always travel east and never get to the west. It is a measureless distance. It is an infinite distance.
Because the earth is a globe, a sphere, the lines of latitude circle endlessly. North and south lead to specific, finite points—the North and South Poles and you can’t go any further in that direction before it stops and becomes another direction.
Jesus’s love for us is such that He not only bore the wrath for our sins but He removed them from us to an immeasurable infinity. When we repent, our sins are gone, boundlessly extinct. God’s immeasurable love is never distant from us though. Our sins are thrown to a point as far as the east is from the west, but God is Immanuel: God with us!
“Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.” Isaiah 7:14.
Praise the Lord who was born, lived sinlessly taught, died, and rose again! Our sins are now taken care of, if we repent and believe.
By Elizabeth Prata
Have you heard of the new trend sweeping through our society from Gen Z-ers to Boomers? It’s analog. Yes, the new fashioned word for an old fashioned life- one filled with tactile hobbies like knitting and crosswords in real books and newspapers. Design trends where prospective house buyers seek a home like grandma had- with real rooms, not open concept, afghans, wallpaper, hardwood floors, sunrooms, even sewing rooms. They call it ‘a grandma house.’
The last 30 years has seen a rise of the digital, and a resulting loss of the tactile. People are tired of the constant notifications, intrusive surveillance, annoying advertisements/pop-ups, and anxiety known as FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out). When we’re always ‘connected’, we tend to compare our lives to others and covetousness, jealousy, and unease rises. Frankly, we’re tired.
The church has not escaped the impact of the rise of digital lifestyles. Into this rising trend of concern and yearning for simpler times is Thom Rainer’s forthcoming book, “The Revival of the Analog Church: Why Your Church Should Be Personal and In-Person (Church Answers Resources)”. It is due out in October 2026, and it is being published by Tyndale Momentum.
The church never escapes being influenced by the world around us. Even diligent churches that resist worldly trends have to fight hard to push back. Church is composed of people, and people for the last 30 years have grabbed onto all things digital. Many churches have suffered for it.
Rainer wrote, “Have we digitized what was meant to be deeply personal? The digital world gave us tools. Helpful ones. We could reach farther and faster. Sermons went online. Groups went virtual. Resources were available with a click.”
But all these tools come with a cost. We are suffering from ‘digital fatigue’ and this includes churches. It’s no so much the tools that churches use, such as streaming the sermon or digital Bibles, it is the pace at which the digital world has taught us to run. It is the brain, always pumping for more, the new, the next. Digital is a tool, but it has overpowered us and taught us that we need to always be moving. This constant movement includes a hurry-up pace in church. Yet, Rainer writes, church is exactly the place where we need to slow down, pray pensively, linger in relationship, be present emotionally, mentally, physically. He advocates for “the sacred simplicity of a Sabbath-like presence.”
Rainer’s point is synopsized with this- we are digitally numb, and ‘Digital numbness leads to spiritual numbness.’
The chapters, 11 of them, describe the problem and offer solutions. Rainer includes reflection questions at the end of each chapter.
Rainer begins with a solid explanation of the difference between analog and digital, and how this is impacting the church. He humbly relates that he himself had fallen into the fast-paced digital world, at one point, to the detriment of his family. He loves the digital and assures the reader he is no naysayer, writing, “We have not sinned by embracing digital tools.”
However, Rainer makes the case that we must mindfully slow our pace, be present at church, and restore an unhurried worship.
This book is positioned well to capture this wave of analog yearning to return to an unhurried pace with real relationships. The realization that digital has its limits is fueling the desire to return to unhurried worship and discipleship in its fullest sense. In his book, Rainer describes how.
There is no doubt that digital media has drastically changed how people communicate and how people commune with each other, and the change has impacted not only worship but witnessing and evangelism. This must be a concern for us all.
His point is that “People are weary of a life that feels like it’s always in motion but never truly grounded.” It’s true that the digital world has taught us to live in fragments, when Jesus actually taught to live by thinking deeply, slowly, and intentionally in worship.
Positives:
–The author captures and crystallizes and amorphous unease many people seem to be dealing with regarding the digital lifestyle,
–His end-of-chapter questions are thought provoking,
–Rainer provides solutions, not just identifying the problem,
–He Humbly includes himself in the digital problem.
Negatives:
–I saw a few scriptures, maybe 3 or 4. I’d like to see more scripture use in a book about the importance of relational worship,
–His likening of listening to vinyl records or playing board games to church life as examples of analog were a bit of a stretch. In my opinion, he could have written more deeply about analog church life. I felt the book was more overview than deep theology. Of course, this is fine for someone new to the concept of the problem of digital vs. analog.
–The writing style was very much digital. Too many sentences beginning with ‘And’, staccato short bulleted sentences, and lots of “it’s not this, it’s that.” Rainer mentioned several times how he has absorbed and enjoyed the digital life and pace, and this absorption shows through in his writing, which definitely mimics the digital.
If you are new to the idea that digital fatigue is rising and beginning to permeate our society -and the church- from the oldest adult generation to the youngest, then this would be 4-stars for you. If you are already familiar with the concept and want a more deeply theological examination of the issue, then this book is a 3-star for you, with other suggestions below.
Further Resources:
Out-Of-Doors in the Holy Land by Henry van Dyke. Published 1908 and considered a classic of Holy Land travelogues. Blurb: “Van Dyke’s beautiful descriptions and thoughtful reflections on the landscape, the people, and the spiritual significance of the places he visits make this a must-read for anyone interested in travel, religion, or culture. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important”. The premise is that Christianity was an out of doors religion, where walking, pondering, contemplating and considering were all slow processes.
Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport. (2019). Blurb: “a book that proposes a philosophy for using technology intentionally to support your values, rather than letting it control you, advocating for a focused life by drastically reducing low-value digital activities”.
Twelve Ways Your Phone is Changing You, by Tony Reinke. (2017). Blurb- “Drawing from the insights of numerous thinkers, published studies, and his own research, writer Tony Reinke identifies twelve potent ways our smartphones have changed us—for good and bad. Reinke calls us to cultivate wise thinking and healthy habits in the digital age.”
Competing Spectacles by Tony Reinke. (2019). Blurb- “We live in a world full of shiny distractions, faced with an onslaught of viral media constantly competing for our attention and demanding our affections. These ever-present visual “spectacles” can quickly erode our hearts, making it more difficult than ever to walk through life actively treasuring that which is most important and yet invisible: Jesus Christ.”
God, Technology, and the Christian Life by Tony Reinke (2022). “Highlights: Biblical, Informed Look at Technology; Gathers Ideas from Industry Experts and Theologians by Interacting with Christian and non-Christian sources on technology and theology including John Calvin, Herman Bavinck, Wendell Berry, and Elon Musk, and is Educational: Discusses the history and philosophy behind major technological innovations.”
Amazon Bio: Thom S. Rainer is the founder and CEO of Church Answers. Prior to Church Answers, he served as president and CEO of LifeWay Christian Resources. He also served at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary for twelve years where he was the founding dean of the Billy Graham School of Missions and Evangelism. He has been a pastor of four churches and interim pastor of ten churches. He has written several books, including “I am a Church Member” and “Simple Church”.
DISCLAIMER- My Advanced Reader Copy was provided via NetGalley. I received a free digital copy of this book from Tyndale, the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.
By Elizabeth Prata
Can you imagine the pit of despair the Disciples felt on Good Friday? To them it was a hellish and confusing Friday. They were confused, they scattered, Peter even denied Jesus.
Jesus’ separation from the Father while on the cross (Matthew 27:46) is the loneliest and most poignant moment any person ever felt in the history of the universe, bar none.
But the disciples’ sudden and unexpected separation on Friday from their spiritual Father they’d been following so hopefully for three years came upon them cruelly and brutally, throwing them all into states of panic, despair, and spiritual depression. Even though Jesus had told them ahead of time, and even though they had studied the scriptures, they didn’t understand. To them, it wasn’t Good Friday. It was just bad Friday and the seeming end of the long trail of hopes and highs they’d been experiencing for three years with Jesus in discipleship to Him. They did not know as we do, Friday’s here, but Sunday’s coming!
We worship Jesus every day. We worship and praise Jesus collectively in services on Sunday. We exalt Him each year on Resurrection Sunday. We know Him as Resurrected King triumphant over sin and death!
His ultimate moment will be His return, when every knee shall bow and every tongue will confess (Romans 14:11, Philippians 2:10, Isaiah 45:23).
“The LORD will be king over the whole earth. On that day there will be one LORD, and his name the only name.” (Zechariah 14:9)
Everyone will know that Jesus is MESSIAH! They will finally know the Resurrected Jesus is the only name. He is all names. He is the beginning and the end!
And it started with the cross on Friday, when it was finished.
By Elizabeth Prata
Holy Week is that period between Psalm Sunday and Resurrection Sunday. It is a period rightly somber, and many Christians meditate on the meaning of the different things Jesus did in His last week of earthly life.
The Gospels were not written chronologically so it is hard to exactly tell when Jesus did what during that specific week, except for Thursday. Yesterday was the day Jesus washed the disciples’ feet,(John 13:3–17), established the Lord’s Supper, (Luke 22:19–20), and was the evening of His betrayal and arrest. (John 18,John 19,Isaiah 52:13-53:12). Also, today we know Jesus was crucified.
Today is known as “Good Friday”. What is ‘good’ about it? What can possibly be good about an innocent man executed in the most brutal way, making Him a spectacle? What is good about death and the cross? What is good about a perversion of justice, where betrayers are monetarily rewarded and notorious murderers set free?
That is the finite, human view. What is ‘good’ to us is quite different in God’s economy. It was good that the Son willingly left glory to incarnate on earth, live all the phases of a human male until an adult, and teach and preach truths for 3 years. It was good that the Son submitted to the Father’s will for all His life, including death on a cross. It was good he was sinless and sacrificed Himself for those who would believe or we would all be doomed to God’s wrath for our sin in hell for all eternity. Now, anyone who will repent and believe will enjoy the gift of eternal life. All this is good.
He laid down His life for us. He was stripped, nailed, and speared. Why? For us. His love for us. His love for the world. Spurgeon says in his sermon, The Death of Christ for His People,
Come, now, my soul, and worship this man, this God. Come, believer, and behold thy Saviour; come to the innermost circle of all sanctity, the circle that contains the cross of Christ, and here sit down; and, whilst thou dost worship, learn three lessons from the fact that “he laid down his life for us.”
The first lesson should be,—Did he lay down his life for us? Ah! then, my brethren, how great must have been our sins that they could not have been atoned for at any other price!
Secondly, did he lay down his life for us? Ah! then, beloved, how great must have been his love! He would not stop short anywhere, until life itself had been resigned.
Thirdly, did he lay down his life for us? Ah! then, my soul, be of good cheer; how safe art thou! If such an atonement hath been offered, if such a sure satisfaction hath been given to Almighty God, how secure thou art! Who is he that can destroy him who hath been bought with the blood of such a Redeemer?
The cross of Jesus is all in all. Paul preached about the cross 19 times in the Gospels, said Horatius Bonar in his essay The Cross of the Lord Jesus.
Bonar wrote “The crucifixion transformed the evil into good.” Bonar unpacks each of these in his essay, but for brevity’s sake here are the themes:
One. It is the place of propitiation (Lev 16:15; Rom 3:25). The altar was there for the burnt-offering. The place without the gate for the sin-offering was there. He “his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree” (1Pe 2:24). The sin-bearing work was completed there when the cry went up, “It is finished” (Joh 19:30).
Two. It is the meeting-place (Exo 29:42). It is the place where we meet with God, and God meets with us in friendship, and love, and joy.
Three. It is the place of love. God’s love is there, shining in its full brightness, unhindered and undimmed. “God so loved the world” (Joh 3:16) gets its interpretation at the Cross.
Four. It is the place of acceptance. Here we become “accepted in the beloved” (Eph 1:6). Here the exchange takes place between the perfect and the imperfect.
Bonar goes on to explain 20 accomplishments of the cross. He summed up-
The right knowledge of the Cross is everything to a sinner; and error respecting it must be fatal. It is by the knowledge of Himself and of His Cross that the Father’s righteous Servant justifies many; and to be ignorant of the Cross is to be ignorant of that which justifies. To be in error as to that Cross is to be in error as to that in virtue of which God forgiveth sin and receives the sinner into favor.
To add anything to that Cross is to destroy its efficacy as well as to deny its completeness; to take anything from it is to rob it of its saving virtue. It can only save as it stands—the perfection of God’s wisdom and the revelation of His righteous grace.
It is finished.
By Elizabeth Prata
Doesn’t it just amaze you to pray to Jesus…and know He hears us? It’s incredible, and a privilege we always remember in gratitude.
As Isaiah cried in his wonder and grief, “I am a man of unclean lips!” (Isaiah 6:5). In my case, a woman of unclean lips. Why should I be able to use these lips to pray to Jesus when I am the chief of sinners, wretched woman that I am? What is man that God should be mindful of us? (Psalm 8:4). Why should He hear us?
But He does.
Though ‘El Shama’ is not an official name of God, it refers to the fact that God hears…He listens. God told Hagar to name her soon to be born son Ishmael. Ishmael is is a combination of el and shama, “God hears” or “God listens”. The name would be a reminder to Hagar and all who knew them that He heard Hagar’s cry in the wilderness. (Genesis 16:11). He listens.
Psalm 17:6 says
I have called on you, for you will hear me, O God: incline your ear to me, and hear my speech.
Gill’s Expositions says of the Psalmist’s plea in verse 6,
“for thou wilt hear me, O God; God is a God hearing prayer; he is used to hear his people, and they have frequent experience of it, and they may be assured that whatsoever they ask according to his will, and in the name of Christ, he will hear; and such an assurance is a reason engaging the saints to a constant calling upon God, Psalm 116:2; and such confidence of being always heard Christ had, John 11:41;”
1 John 5:14 says,
And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us.
Did Peter forever relive his anguish in his remaining life, when he heard the rooster crow the day awake and remembered his own perfidy? Owww, Peter, I understand your grief, the pain of betraying Jesus in word or in deed from our own sinful actions. Yet…Jesus prayed for Peter. Luke 22:32. He did not pray for Judas. Both men betrayed Jesus, but Jesus prayed for Peter.
If you’re a Christian, Jesus prays for you, too. It’s staggering to consider that the God of the Universe prays for us. He hears us, and He prays for us. We have a superlative God, One who is true and kind and loving and compassionate. Sister, no matter what you are going through, Jesus hears your prayer and He takes your cares to the Father in prayer. Be encouraged.
By Elizabeth Prata
SYNOPSIS: Reflecting on The Pilgrim’s Progress and examples like John Child, I explore apostasy’s terror, irreversibility, and sobering call to perseverance, holiness, and faithful gospel proclamation.
Continue reading “Lessons from the Man in the Cage”By Elizabeth Prata
SYNOPSIS: Reviewing Jerry Bridges’ The Blessing of Humility, I reflect on humility as essential to sanctification, rooted in the Beatitudes, closely tied to love, and cultivated through Spirit-led self-examination, repentance, and the difficult, ongoing work of confronting pride.
The Blessing of Humility by Jerry Bridges is a wonderful book. If we are to mortify our sin, pursue holiness, and join the Holy Spirit in the hard work of sanctification, there are many of our own sins we can pick from. It’s a blessing that Jesus does not reveal all of them at once to us. We would surely be undone, as Isaiah cried. But pride is the root of all of them, and its opposite, humility, is often overlooked as of nearly ultimate importance of a characteristic to seek.
In his book, Bridges goes through the Beatitudes and sees a pattern for action in cultivating humility. His easy writing style and clarity of each short chapter’s structure makes it easy to see both the theological foundation strongly tied to the Bible, and how to apply these truths to one’s life.
The book is an easy read mentally but do you really want to read it quickly? Sure, it’s a short book. But it is a tough read spiritually. Here is what Bridges said-
“This book can be read completely in about two hours or less. You may want to do that to get an overview of the book However, the real value of this book will come as you then read each chapter reflectively and prayerfully. Ask God to help you see yourself as you really are in the light of each of the character traits covered in the eight Beatitudes. And then ask God to help you grow in the areas where you see yourself to be most needy.“
Embarking on a study of humility and its application to my life, I first read Andrew Murray’s little book, “Humility: The Journey Toward Holiness.” It was good. He hammered the point home: humility is important. This set me up for a good absorption rate when I next turned to the always gentle and readable Jerry Bridges’ The Blessing of Humility.
I will be quoting a lot from Bridges in this essay!
“The character trait of humility is the second-most frequently taught trait in the New Testament, second only to love. At one time I counted fifty instances of love taught, either by precept or example, in the New Testament; I counted forty instances of humility. I regard these two traits as the foundational stones of Christian character. All other character traits, in one way or another, are built upon love and humility.“
I did not know how closely love and humility are, and this was a point made in Murray’s book as well. My curiosity piqued, I went on. Next I learned that humility is actually a command of God. Bridges said-
“This is a crucial point, because in our frenetic world of today, such softer character traits as humility, gentleness, and patience often get ignored or even regarded as unreal expectations in the hustle and bustle of life. But if we want to apply the Bible’s teaching to our daily lives, we cannot ignore the call to live our ordinary lives in a spirit of humility.”
OK, good. I appreciated at that point the Holy Spirit’s leading me to a study of this character trait, one I could do so much more in applying to my life, which necessitated mortifying those tendrils of pride that rear up at any or all times.
I’d said earlier that Bridges that as one goes through the Beatitudes he saw a pattern for applying humility to our lives. He said about those who mourn are blessed-
“This second character trait of the Beatitudes naturally follows the first. Those who are genuinely poor in spirit will mourn over their sin. As John Blanchard wrote, “To be ‘poor in spirit’ is to be convicted of one’s sin, whereas to ‘mourn’ is to be contrite for it.”
See what I mean about his writing and flow being so clear? So I am halfway through the book now. I’ve read the intro, the chapter on being ‘poor in spirit’, ‘those who mourn’ and now, the chapter on ‘meekness’.
This chapter on meekness really stuck with me.
It’s the pondering, praying, and mulling over how to apply the insights gained to my own sin that is the slow-down. And isn’t that the goal of any spiritual endeavor? To seek Christ-likeness? It’s not easy and it is not fast.
It’s the meek chapter that slowed me even more. I don’t know if any of this book will pierce you or which chapter if so, but for me, it was being meek.
“[W]e too often use the Scriptures not as a means of judging ourselves but as a means of judging others, especially those whose sins are more flagrant than ours. The meek person, in contrast, searches the Scriptures (or listens to it taught) not to judge others but to allow the Holy Spirit to judge him or her. In fact, the meek person earnestly desires the Spirit to use His Word to effect a deep change in his or her inner being.”
Our dear departed friend Voddie Baucham, Jr., always used to say, “If you can’t say amen, you ought to say ouch!” Meaning, if biblical truth is preached and you cannot agree with it (“amen”), it is likely because the message is convicting you of sin, or challenging your disobedience, causing spiritual pain (“ouch”).
Using the scriptures to judge one’s self takes courage and a hard look at the depravity of one’s own heart. This is necessary in order to mortify it. This book has a conviction rate of 99%!
You can see that meekness is truly humility in action. ~Jerry Bridges
Many people, especially men, avoid cultivating a trait of being meek, becuase they think it means being weak, or a spineless doormat, or timid. It doesn’t mean that. Moses was said to be the most humble person on the face of the earth. (Numbers 12:3). Yet he left the ease and comfort of the palace, stood up to Pharaoh, led millions, faced battles, and more.
“The word for meek that Jesus used is far different. Meekness is not being timid, spineless, unassertive, and easily dominated. It is not a natural niceness. In fact, it has nothing to do with one’s personality or temperament. It is the work of the Holy Spirit within. Yet it is a character trait that can and should be cultivated in our lives.“
As Christians, we all want the Holy Spirit to work in our lives. Transforming us from creatures wallowing in depravity to holy people adorning His temple means doing the hard work of unearthing the sins in us and killing them. We are so used to ourselves in our skin and sometimes so busy we forget to look up via the Bible at the purity, love, and humility of Jesus in heaven, and by comparison, our own sinfulness. Even Paul struggled with subduing his body-
For I do not understand what I am doing; for I am not practicing what I want to do, but I do the very thing I hate. (Romans 7:15).
If ypu would like a good book on the topic of humility, I recommend Jerry Bridges’ “The Blessing of Humility”.
The Free Grace Broadcaster is a monthly Journal from Chapel Library. They unearth the work of the ‘old, dead guys’ for essays and quotes on a different monthly topic. Issue 168 deals with “Pride and Humility.” It is also a great resource. It is here, and you can read online, download, or request a hard copy sent to you for free. Contents include the following essays:
Pride the Destroyer: Charles H. Spurgeon (1834-1892)
An Admonition to Humility: Charles Simeon (1759-1836)
Humble Faith: Edward Fisher (fl. 1627-1655)
A Word about Pride to All but Especially to Ministers of the Gospel: Richard Baxter (1615-1691)
Thoughts on Pride from the Book of Proverbs, Parts 1,2,3: Charles Bridges (1794-1869)
Pride and Its Cure: L. R. Shelton, Jr. (1923-2003).
Charles Spurgeon also preached on humility, in a sermon titled Humility: Micah’s Message for Today. Spurgeon concluded his sermon this way and I’ll close my essay with his words:
Oh, brethren, the Lord help us to walk humbly with God! This will keep us right. True humility is thinking rightly of thyself, not meanly. When you have found out what you really are, you will be humble, for you are nothing to boast of. To be humble will make you safe. To be humble will make you happy. To be humble will make music in your heart when you go to bed. To be humble here will make you wake up in the likeness of your Master by-and-by. The Lord bless this word, for Jesus’ sake! Amen.
By Elizabeth Prata
SYNOPSIS
This essay explores Christian disagreement, urging discernment in speech, balancing boldness with love, and promoting patient, Scripture-centered, civil discourse that fosters growth while faithfully representing Christ.
Continue reading “How to Contend for the Faith Part 3- Putting it all together”
the-end-time.org 