----- Original Message -----
Sent: June 11, 2004 06:54
Subject: [TruthTalk] Defining Humility,
Pride, and Interpretation
Yesterday
JonathanH wrote:
What one
can claim is that they have a proper confidence in what they teach
and think. This is not absolute certainty. It avoids such pride. It refuses to
confuse God�s word with our word. What is
hoped is that our words become a faithful interpretation of God�s words, that others may see through what we say to what
God is saying to our hearts.
Judyt: Today my
question would be what (in God's eyesight) is
pride?
Is humility
knowing and saying what Jesus says with the absolute certainty that
comes through faith?
Or
is humility having confidence in my own personal
thoughts
and spreading what "I think" Jesus might be
saying - wasn't it I, Me, and My that got Lucifer thrown out of
heaven?
Were the Bereans of Acts 17:11 proud
to think they could examine what the apostle Paul taught
alongside God's Word to see if what he said was so? Is it pride to
believe the same grace enables us to do this today?
Since Jesus is our Master and he left us
an example that we should follow in His steps (1 Peter 2:21), what does Jesus
have to say about this?
We know from His own words that Jesus
only said what he first heard the Father saying
(John 12:49 & John 14:24)
We know that his hearers did not
receive what he said because they did not have
the word of the Father dwelling in them (John 8:37, John 8:43); they were
counting on the fact that they were children of Abraham genetically to put
them over.
We see that Jesus was confident
about what he did and said because His teaching/words came from the Father and
his hearers were condemned by their unbelief as we will be if we
don't get it together because all of us will all be judged by the words
He spoke (John 12:48).
Jesus was humble (see Matthew 11:29) So
God's definition of humility is saying what He
says.
I have been reading a lot about
"interpretation" and different kinds of mindsets that cause problems with
this. However, God's Word needs no interpretation because He and He alone
reveals the meaning to some and conceals it to
others.
This is explained in Matthew
13:13-17.
The secret of the Lord is with those who
fear Him and He will show them His covenant .....
