The Saints defeated the Pats soundly last night; outplayed them in every way. From 2001 to the last season, fans of the New England team got used to their Pats win; almost assuming they would find a way, even when they were behind, to come back in the 4th quarter and put the necessary points on the board. This season is different! Every game is a challenge. Wins are truly celebrated, never taken for granted. Perhaps this ‘humbling’ is good for those of us who liked to taunt fans of teams made up of mere mortals.
Some people get used to winning at life, too! Year after year, they enjoy good health, steady employment, a solid marriage; a good life. Quite easily, and often unconsciously, some allow a kind of arrogance to creep in, a feeling that others must be ‘losing’ because they are weaker, less intelligent, or doing something to deserve their difficulties. This state is particularly tragic when found among those who are supposedly walking with God, who develop a severe case of Pharisaical superiority. Blessings are a gift of grace, given so that we might bless others, not so we can hoard them or worse, assume they are some kind of badge signifying Divine Approval!
Jesus told a story about two men, one of whom had become accustomed to his ‘superior’ position in the world, who assumed his blessings resulted from his own goodness. Take a look.
“Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.
The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’
“But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’
“I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”" (Luke 18:10-14, NIV)
Truthfully, we need to know that eventually trouble finds us all! We age. Tragedy strikes. Disappointment knocks on our door. For reasons we cannot always comprehend, losing seasons arrive! This is a serious crisis for every Pharisee who takes his ‘wins’ as God’s sign of special favor. If he has believed he ‘earned’ the favor of God, then logic says he must now accept responsibility for his losses! Guilt sets in, stoked by the demons that rejoice. Fear becomes his companion. Doubt about God’s goodness is not far behind, as he searches his heart and mind for failures that must have ‘caused’ God to judge him.
Disciple, do you humbly take the blessings and the hard days with equal faith and thankful acknowledgement of God’s wisdom? Some of you are objecting, “But, Pastor, are you saying we have no effect on our lives? Are you putting us in the hand of fate?” No, of course, choices have consequences. There are decisions we make that lead to better results than others. But, the wisest of men suffer loss and fools sometime succeed! The story of Job starkly reminds all of us that God operates beyond our finite limits of understanding, sometimes allowing even those who are righteous and mature to go through long and dark nights.
Dig the root of pride out of your heart! Love those who suffer, not with pity, but as one who shares life with them in a world where seasons change, where tragedy and triumph are often next door neighbors. The one constant that we cling to is this: "Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning. I say to myself, “The Lord is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!” (Lamentations 3:23-24, NLT)
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You can have a song
In your heart in the night,
After every trial
After every mile.
Anyone can sing
When the sun's shining bright,
But you need a song
In your heart at night.
You can have a melody
Down in your heart,
When it's aching, almost breaking,
Even though the sorrow
Makes the teardrop start,
You can have a melody
Down in your heart.
Do not let your worries
Drive your song away,
Though tomorrow bring its sorrow.
Just remember after night time
Comes the day,
Do not let your worries
Drive your song away.
You Can Have A Song In Your Heart
Stanphill, Ira / Slavens, E.L.
© 1946 Singspiration Music
(Admin. by Brentwood-Benson Music Publishing, Inc., 741 Coolsprings Blvd., Franklin TN 37067)
CCLI License No. 810055
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