Friday, April 19, 2019

Making self look good


Mark 14:41-46   (Jesus said)    the hour is come; behold, the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.  Rise up, let us go; lo, he that betrayeth me is at hand.

And immediately, while he yet spake, cometh Judas, one of the twelve, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders.

And he that betrayed HIM had given them a token, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is HE; take HIM, and lead HIM away safely.
And as soon as he was come, he goeth straightway to HIM, and saith, Master, master; and kissed HIM.


And they laid their hands on HIM, and took HIM.


***

It is not just that Judas betrayed Jesus with a kiss, but he wanted Jesus to be led away "safely" to be crucified!

Jesus made Himself "of no reputation."

Philippians 2:5-8    Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:  But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:  And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.


***

Our flesh wants to exalt itself in the sight of other humans... by dress, by achievements of man, by winning, by something.

But everything we can see with the natural eye is temporary.

The great achievements man makes for himself to exalt himself before others will be burned in the fire and all the landmarks man builds will be destroyed.

II Peter 3:10-14    But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,

Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?


Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of HIM in peace, without spot, and blameless.


***

The only way we can live in peace, without spot and blameless, is to take each concern to God in prayer and to take each thing we are planning to God in prayer, praying from our heart for the will of God to be done in us on this earth … and then after praying by waiting to be led by God and doing what we believe God shows us to do.

We will not achieve this by exalting ourselves and trying to look good to other humans!


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