God is glorified when we live by Jesus’s teachings and lead others to the Gospel message of redemption. Salvation is not a reward for good things we might have done but a gift for those who love Him. The good we do as a new being redeemed in Christ is merely the fruit of a changed heart. We are called to love one another (Jn 13:35) from a pure heart (1 Tim 1:5). Jesus called us to deny this world and focus on the eternity with Him that He promised (Mk 8:34-37). One of the beautiful things about being in a discipling relationship with another is seeing the change in them. This change comes from within as we put on the image of Christ and start interacting with others in love, kindness, humility, and patience (Col 3:12-14).

If we are truly going to call ourselves disciples of Christ, we must act like Him. This is impossible by our strength, but with the Holy Spirit dwelling within us (Rom 8:9), we can follow Jesus anywhere He leads. We must put aside our pride and sense of self and model the one who performed the greatest act of humility ever when the Lord of the universe became a man to die on the cross to forgive our sins (Gal 2:20). Mahaney notes that “Humility gets God’s attention.”[1] Indeed, the Lord says, “This is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word” (Is 66:2). If we desire to attract God’s gaze and blessings on our life, we need to honestly evaluate our life in the light of His holiness.     

Once we admit our brokenness and humbly ask the Lord for direction, we can begin the process of real growth. When we move away from our sinful lives, we embark on a new trajectory. Cloud notes repentance “requires a great deal of humility because we have to admit we are wrong.”[2] God’s design for our lives is so much better than our own. When our eyes are opened to our sin, we can change our ways to follow His plan better. Having a mentor we trust can often help us see things we otherwise overlook. A fresh perspective can often help us see ourselves in a different light.

We should always strive to have people in our lives that have a deeper relationship with God than we do. The wisdom we learn from them helps prepare us to pass that knowledge to those coming up behind us. My wife and I have been blessed with being in a small group with mentors much wiser than us who encouraged us to grow. They offer insight where they can, and we seek answers and clarity for the unknowns. One of the most incredible things I have learned from our small group is that discipling is a journey, not an event. Also, God desires us to have companions in this walk of life (Eccl 4:9-12). Often the Holy Spirit speaks to us through others.

Next week, I will wrap up this series.

Be sure to bring glory to God in your thoughts and actions.

Blessings,

Pastor Michael

If you missed any of the previous parts, you can find them all on our website: https://puresprings.org/blog-masonry/

[1] C. J. Mahaney, Humility: True Greatness (Sisters, OR: Multnomah Publishers, 2005), 19.

[2] Ibid., 288.