Scripture can also warn us about our own nature.

Do you know Acts 20:29-30?

“Savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them.”

We read this verse and think of off-base mega-preachers, church fads, and wacky sects leading people away from God. Paul wasn’t just warning the church against outsiders, but fellow believers. That includes each of us because we all have the potential to behave like wolves.

As saved sinners, we are prone to acting like animals. We can be wolf-like, treating our brothers and sisters in the body of Christ poorly and misleadingly. We might feel like lambs, believing ourselves to be innocent and well-intentioned. But, that can be a disguise from both ourselves and others.

Do you ever act like a wolf?

Do you ever act like a wolf? Or are you more like a lamb?
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Do you feed on others?

Wolves are driven by their appetite –what they find satisfying and appealing. They bite and devour to get their fill, much like we’re warned against in Galatians 5:15:

“If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.”

Rather than being concerned with bearing fruit in the Lord, wolves in the church care more about being “fed.” They’ll gladly tear up the flesh to satisfy their yearnings, diminish others to build themselves us, and act like it’s up to them to get everyone in line (as if the Lord’s work of transforming lives isn’t enough!)

When we act like wolves we put our desires and goals above a love for others and the fruit of the Spirit, like patience and humility. We do so at great cost to others in the body, possibly being more concerned that they follow “our way” than follow Jesus.

Do you expect to be the leader of the pack?

Sheep live in flocks. They trust and obey their shepherd. Their shepherd provides what they need to be satisfied. Wolves, on the other hand, are pack animals. They compete for dominance. Each wolf is always seeking to be the leader and to have the best position.

Quick to stir up conflict out of self-interest and create division in order to keep the order they are comfortable with, wolves don’t treat all members with equal compassion or respect. They want to be in control, because whatever that costs, it’s what they believe is for the best.

We, by acting like wolves, fulfill what is warned against in Colossians 2 as Paul describes those who like to take charge, condemn others, as well as set up rules in order to build themselves up. Paul reasons: “they have lost connection with the head.” Colossians 2:19

By our nature, we’re much more like wolves than like lambs.

Be on guard, check your heart.

There are days and seasons when we lose sight of whom we serve and, like wolves, begin to serve our own appetites instead. Thank God we can repent, ask His help to change, and turn back even if we’ve led others astray in some way. 

{A version of this post previously appeared here}

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A characteristic missing from a “me” culture. A trait often overlooked when climbing the corporate ladder—any ladder going to the top.

And a powerful attribute underestimated for leaders in ministry, coaching, business and more. It’s usually misunderstood in our present world. Even tossed to the side.

But God calls His people to put on, walk in and practice humility in every area of our lives.

Because even becoming Christ-followers starts with humbling ourselves enough to recognize Jesus as Lord and Savior. We’re not our own lord or savior.

So the Bible has much to say about the subject and the promises surrounding it.

Even becoming Christ-followers starts with humbling ourselves enough to recognize Jesus as Lord and Savior. We’re not our own lord or savior. #Biblical #humility @FridayKaren
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(1.) God Hears Humble Pleas

King Josiah is spared from disaster for those who didn’t keep God’s law. “Because your heart was tender…and you have humbled yourself before me…and wept before me, I also have heard you, declares the Lord” (2 Chronicles 34:27).

Jesus told this parable. “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ But I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted” (Luke 18:9-14).

(2.) God Heals Contrite Hearts and Nations

The Lord spoke to Solomon when he finished the house of the Lord. Although God sent pestilence or stopped the rain when His people disobeyed, He gave this promise. “If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14).

“For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: ‘I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite’” (Isaiah 57:15).

(3.) Humility Births Godly Wisdom

“When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom” (Proverbs 11:2).

“Good and upright is the Lord; therefore he instructs sinners in the way. He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way” (Psalm 25:8-9).

Good and upright is the Lord; therefore he instructs sinners in the way. He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way. Psalm 25:8-9 ESV @FridayKaren #Bibilcal #humility
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(4.) Salvation Comes Through Humility

“For the Lord takes pleasure in his people; he adorns the humble with salvation” (Psalm 149:4).

“For you save a humble people, but the haughty eyes you bring down” (Psalm 18:27).

(5.) We Walk Humbly With God, Boast in Him

“This is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word” (Isaiah 66:2b).

“He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8).

God doesn’t choose the worldly wise, noble, or strong. But those foolish and lowly by the world’s standards, “so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.” But we boast in the Lord. (See 1 Corinthians 1:26-30.)

(6.) Relationships Clothed in Humility

“Clothe yourselves…with humility toward one another…. Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you” (1 Peter 5:5-6).

“Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves” (Philippians 2:3).

(7.) We Look Like Jesus

“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross” (Philippians 2:3-11).

After Jesus washed the disciples feet, He said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him” (John 13:16).

Characteristic in a Jesus Culture

Humility. A characteristic in a Jesus culture. A trait for climbing the stairway for God’s kingdom purposes. And a powerful attribute for ministry leaders and all of God’s people in service to others and Him.

What areas of life do you need to practice being humble?

*All Scripture ESV, emphasis added to some verses.

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Words like these accurately describe God’s qualities, but sometimes we find them so obscure and over our heads that the awe gets lost. We pray vaguely aware that God can do whatever He wills- but the wonder and reverence get lost in the routine of it all.

When awe of God is stifled, we tend toward self-sufficiency instead of faithful surrender. CT

Today, join me in this little exercise in awe.

(I suspect our wonder at God and trust in Him over ourselves may increase just a bit!)

God is sovereign.

That means God has all the power to do whatever He decides to do.

Try this: 

• Command the rain to stop or the sun to shine
• Announce “let there be light” in the dark
• Tell a headache to just go away
• Call down pizza from heaven
• Change someone’s stubborn heart

God is omniscient. 

That means God knows everything- for better or for worse.

Try this:

• Plan what’s going to happen for the next 3 hours minute by minute
• Ask zero questions while doing everything you need to do
• Make decisions based on what you know for certain is going to happen
• Respond to other’s questions with complete confidence that you know what you’re doing

That means God is everywhere, all the time, without limit.

Try this:

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While in Gettysburg, we visited the Civil War battlefield and museum, where I learned details about the battle that later became known as the highwater mark for the Confederate Army — a crucial victory of the Union forces, which certainly helped determine the outcome of America’s deadliest war.

In the last room of the battlefield museum, there stands a large picture of one of my favorite American heroes: President Abraham Lincoln. I gazed upon the massive picture, noticing the difference that a couple of years had made in the features of the beloved president. The war had taken its toll, and his grave countenance became graver still.

As I stood there, noticing the wear on his face, I remembered a story about Lincoln that perfectly illustrates one of his great qualities: humility.

The story was told by Civil War era congressman George W. Julian, who supposedly witnessed the account.

Edwin M. Stanton became Secretary of War in 1862 under Lincoln’s administration, and was known to be a man of sharp military vision and strong opinions. A former critic of the administration, Stanton had no problem expressing his opinion when he disagreed with the president. According to Julian, a committee of Western men, headed by Congressman Owen Lovejoy, proposed an exchange of Eastern and Western soldiers — a political move that would please the committee and enlarge the president’s popularity within the group. Lincoln approved the move and sent word to Stanton, ordering the exchange to take place.

Lovejoy explained the orders, but was met by Stanton’s flat refusal:

“But we have the president’s order, sir!” said Lovejoy.

“Did Lincoln give you an order of that kind?” said Stanton.

“He did, sir.”

“Then he is a fool,” replied the enraged Secretary.

“Do you mean to say the president is a fool?” asked Lovejoy, in amazement.

“Yes, sir, if he gave you such an order as that.”

The bewildered congressman from Illinois rushed at once to the president, relating the result of his conference.

“Did Stanton say I was a fool?” asked Lincoln.

“He did, sir; and repeated it.”

After a moment’s pause, the president looked up and said:

“If Stanton said I was a fool, then I must be one, for he is nearly always right, and generally says what he means.”

As Lincoln talked to the general, he realized that his decision was a serious mistake, and without hesitation, humbly withdrew it.

“They that know God will be humble; and they that know themselves cannot be proud.” — John Flavel
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Stop for a moment and think about the depth of John Flavel’s words above.

I firmly believe that people who have a deep sense of God’s guidance and control over their destiny have no problem admitting when they make a mistake; or change course when realizing their decisions are unwise. Conversely, proud men and women secretly believe that admitting their mistakes gives others the impression of weakness, and therefore they stand their ground, even if their decision causes others to suffer, or pushes them further into a path of destruction and pain.

Marriages are broken, children lose respect for their parents, friendships are lost … all because we are too proud to say three simple, yet powerful words: “I was wrong.”
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Thus, our prideful hearts assume a position that belongs only to God, for he alone is perfect.

The great Abraham Lincoln knew his limitations and was quick to change direction when realizing his mistake before it was too late, and before it cost him too much. His sobering example reminds me of this great truth:

Humility is a sign of strength, not weakness. It’s the hallmark of true greatness.
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“I was wrong.” These simple words can become a healing balm to help mend relationships, heal broken hearts … and even change the course of history.

This article was originally published on Patricia’s column for The Atlanta Journal Constitution on Saturday – August 4, 2018.

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