Merciful God and Father
Loving us like no other
Hear our prayer, the cry of our hearts
As we come to You
We acknowledge our transgressions
We confess to You our sins
Show us mercy and compassion
Touch our lives with Your healing grace again.
HEALING GRACE, Donnie McClurkin
The reason [arrogance is] so dangerous, especially for those of us in ministry positions, is that it can become a cancer to our ministry. I could, and I guess you could as well, name dozens of pastors whose arrogance and pride led them to a very public, very shameful, fall.
Arrogance stifles mission. It redirects the focus of our ministry to us instead of to a kingdom focus. And if left unchecked, our ministry will begin to exist for its purpose, not God’s purposes.
And when they saw him from a distance, they did not recognize him. And they raised their voices and wept, and they tore their robes and sprinkled dust on their heads toward heaven. And they sat with him on the ground seven days and seven nights, and no one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his suffering was very great.
–Job 2:11-13
It would have been perfect if they just remained silent and went home afterwards. Unfortunately, Job’s friends started talking and from there, things got more complicated. They originally intended to comfort Job but they ended up accusing him of secret sins.
The paradox of holiness is that God acts to judge everything that is unholy and yet provides a way of cleansing and sanctification for sinners.
Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me! Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression.
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.
—Psalm 19:13-14
There are two things that are suited to humble the souls of men– a due consideration of God, and then of ourselves. Of God, in His greatness, glory, holiness, power, majesty, and authority; of ourselves, in our mean, abject, and sinful condition. The man that understands the evil of his own heart, how vile it is, is the only useful, fruitful, and solidly believing and obedient person.
John Owen, Triumph Over Temptation
Jojo Agot 