1.) Nobody act big
2.) Nobody act small
3.) Everybody act medium
I love all three! Back in the day in SoCal my siblings, Kevin, Kyle, Kathy and I, used to build some forts aka clubhouses with gobs of other kids way up high in oak trees. My dad owned a big camp at the time where a lot of kids from all over the La Canada area did all kinds of stuff like that.
It’s no time for ugly puffed up hubris, religious spiritual pride, arrogance..or even for panic, it’s no time to act puffed up religious or to put on airs. It’s time to depend on the Lord in peace and joy. The Bible teaches us.. simply “act like men”, men. Normal! Women, act like women. Just act like you were born to act (behave). Sure, I don’t mean like some actor just faking it).
It’s no time for ugly puffed up hubris, religious spiritual pride, arrogance..or even for panic, it’s no time to act puffed up religious or to put on airs. It’s time to depend on the Lord in peace and joy. The Bible teaches us.. simply “act like men”, men. Normal! Women, act like women. Just act like you were born to act (behave). Sure, I don’t mean like some actor just faking it).
Be real. Listen, you weren’t a mistake. You are indeed loved and have bigger than ginormous value to God, but choose to walk humbly in Him and act medium if ya will. Have not an overhigh estimation of yourself. Why do that? And let another person praise you and not your own mouth -- simply act medium.
1. Joshua 1:9 - Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.
2. Jeremiah 17:7 - But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him.
3. Psalm 27:3 - Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then I will be confident.
4. Psalm 139:13–14 - For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
5. Proverbs 3:25-26 - Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked, for the Lord will be at your side and will keep your foot from being snared.
6. 2 Chronicles 32:8 - With him is only the arm of flesh, but with us is the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles.” And the people gained confidence from what Hezekiah the king of Judah said.
7. Isaiah 32:17 - The fruit of that righteousness will be peace; its effect will be quietness and confidence forever.
8. Isaiah 40:31 - ..but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
9. Isaiah 41:10 - So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
10. Philippians 1:6 - being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
11. Philippians 4:13 - I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
12. Ephesians 3:12 - In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.
13. 1 Corinthians 2:3–5 - I came to you in weakness with great fear and trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power,so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power.
14. 2 Corinthians 12:9 - But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.
15. Hebrews 4:16 - Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
16. Hebrews 10:35–36 - So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.
17. Hebrews 13:6 - So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?”
18. 2 Timothy 1:7 - For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.
19. 1 John 4:17 - This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus.
20. Romans 12:3 - For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.
Have confidence in God, be not afraid. Be real and live disciplined in Jesus. God is SO for you, not against you. Do you have an assurance of your own personal salvation? You can.. right now (read more..). Now is good -- don’t put this off.
Our top aim today? It’s Pure worship -- you were made to the praise of His glory. It’s to simply act medium as you trust and rely on the Word of God. It’s to know Him well and make Him well known. Yes, all your friends need Him too. It’s to enjoy an intimate daily obedient relationship with Almighty God -- the Living One (your best Friend) who won’t ditch, but will fight whatever battles you may be facing.
- Humility and submission to Direct and to flawed Delegated Authority go hand in hand. God’s Word tells us that, as Christians, we are to our leaders short of sin and submit to one another in lowliness of mind. “Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for ‘God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.’” 1 Peter 5:5-6
- Being submissive and viewing yourself as “medium” (aka humble, doesn’t mean in any way, shape or form that we are to strangely bow down to other people. We are to wisely serve other people. Paul was very clear when he said that we are ultimately to serve God and God alone. For, “you were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men.” 1 Corinthians 7:23. He also writes: “For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.” Galatians 1:10
- It doesn’t mean that we are always silent or that we’re apathetic, lukewarm spiritually, fatalistic, carnal, worldly.. trying to draw people’s applause towards self.. or like passive impractical people. Nope, live redhot in-love with the Lord. “Do not let your adornment be merely outward.. rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.” 1 Peter 3:3-4 (See the contest on all verses)
- It means not standin’ in front of that full length mirror too long.. you know, thinkin’ about yourself too much as so many do.. instead of thinkin’ about Jesus, about wisely applying the Word -- yes, about other people in need as well. What does this mean, Kurt -- it means choosing to think right just like you were created to think. The Bible says, “For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.” Romans 12: 3. To have a humble mindset is to think accurately, and soberly about oneself. This means that we don’t boast of our own accomplishments and abilities. Rather, we acknowledge that our sufficiency is of God in all of things. I say go brag on Jesus cuz He is so brag-worthy. (See 2 Corinthians 3:5)
- It means that we use our God-given talents and capabilities for His glory here. “As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.” 1 Peter 4:10-11.
- Thinking this way is basically a key to your progress. “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you… Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.” James 4:6-8, 10
- God is very interested in you. He pays close attention to your heart, motives, thoughts, and attitudes. He is so ready and eager to help you when weak. He can strengthen all those who desire to live for Christ as a good witness for His glory. “Thus says the Lord: ‘Heaven is My throne, and earth is My footstool..‘But on this one will I look: On him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at My word.’” Isaiah 66:1-2 Fish4souls.org
Thank you beloved believer for your faithfulness to Christ and for your important ministry as He leads you. Do let me know of any special prayer needs or challenges okay.
Am way grateful that you are there growing in Christ. Keep on sharing and caring in His Name. He sees it and will reward you.
