The Daily Breadcast

A modest or low view of one’s own importance; freedom from pride/arrogance

Have you ever heard… “If you’re the smartest person in the room, then you’re in the wrong room.”  Humility says .. even if I am the smartest person in the room, no one will ever know that I know that nor will I even give the slightest hint that that’s the way I perceive myself...

Humility is something that needs to be cultivated daily. Here are some practical ways to develop this virtue:

• Serve Others: seek opportunities to serve.
• Admit Mistakes and Ask for Forgiveness: admit when they are wrong & ask for forgiveness.
• Submit to God’s Will: trusting God’s plan and submitting to His authority in every area of life.
• Practice Gratitude: acknowledge that all good things come from God

Humility allows us to live in harmony with one another

1. Romans 12:16 - Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.
2. Proverbs 11:2 - When pride comes, then comes shame; But with the humble is wisdom.
3. Philippians 2:3-4 - Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.

1 Peter 5:8 - Our Adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour.

I heard the analogy of when you're camping in a “wilderness,” some place where wildlife is prevalent or just possible to come in contact with, that you don’t leave food lying around.

Various dangerous creatures (Bears, Mountain Lions, Wolves, etc…) will venture into your camp to see what they can devour, and if you’re in the wrong place, or caught off guard, you’ll be devoured with whatever food is left lying around.

So… What food are you leaving out and unsecured that might lure the devil into your midst?

Essentially these are  the temptations you don’t address or guard against

Jesus tells us in Matthew 5 and again in chapter 18 that whatever body part causes us to stumble, to pluck it out, discard it and enter into the kingdom of heaven maimed or blind rather than being whole and thrust into hell fire.

This essentially is saying that you need to throw away anything that might get you to compromise your values, belief, faith, etc…  Anything that will cause you to sin, in any way dispose of it, and dispose of it permanently  As permanent as losing an arm or an eye would be.

Do you have a Mind full of mush? Or… Are you mindful of much?

2 Corinthians 10:5 - Cast down everything that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.

Why do we struggle with thoughts?

Romans 7:19-25 - For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. 20 Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. 21 I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. 22 For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. 23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. 24 O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!

Tune in to our little roundtable discussion as Terry, Jeremy and Lauren join me in discussing ways to navigate religious discussion with those of differing beliefs, and ways we have experienced planting the seed of God and His word in the minds of those we interact with.

What is your opinion of Bible interpretations/versions?

How much have you personally researched it?

Which version do you typically gravitate towards?

Keep in mind, we are to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling. Philippians 2:12

So… reading the bible, understanding it, following it, applying it, living by it, etc… it all up to me for me and my salvation, and ultimately if I get it wrong, I must give an account of it in judgment.

So…AT FIRST - What do we need to agree on?

• Existence of God
• All Powerful
• All Knowing
• All Present
• Living
• Jesus Christ is the Son of God
• He was born 
• He was raised in Jewish custom
• He was crucified by the Romans under Jewish leaders’ demands
• He was raised on the 3rd day
• Bible 
• The word of God
• The only authority we have today

What else?

At the heart of confidence is action.  It’s the willingness to try. If you try you’re not going to die, you’ll learn something.  When you learn something, it removes a little bit of the insecurity so it makes it slightly easier to try again.

Philippians 4:13 - I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

(contextually, this is “ can overcome all things” or I can get through all things”)

What are you confident in?

• Your ability in certain areas
• If you're on a team, you can confidence in one another (teammates)
• Your desire to excel at whatever you do

What about for the child of God?

What are Angels (Greek - ANGULOS, Hebrew - MAL’AK or MALECH)?

• Messengers
• Ambassadors sent by God
• obedient servants
• subordinate to God who:
• reflect His glory
• Psalm 103:19-21 
• 19 The Lord has established His throne in heaven, And His kingdom rules over all. 
• 20  Bless the Lord, you His angels, Who excel in strength, who do His word, Heeding the voice of His word. 
• 21  Bless the Lord, all you His hosts, You ministers of His, who do His pleasure.
• 1 Timothy 5:21 - gives the idea of emissaries chosen by God
• Direct our attention to God
• Ministering Spirits to those who will inherit salvation

Doubt - fear/suspect

• Call into question the truth
• To be uncertain
• To lack confidence
• To consider unlikely
• Uncertainty of belief
• An inclination not to believe
• Hesitation - Distrust - Skepticism

What do we have to Doubt?

Truth, Faith / Belief, Certainties??  Idk

When someone tells you they’ll do something, what is your immediate thought?

• Do you believe them?
• Do you question them?

Likely, the reason we doubt is because we have been let down before.

What does it take to overcome doubt?

Thomas needed to put his hand in the piercings.   What do you need?

With the world series & playoff baseball just ending AND the fact that I’m on a golf weekend…

What does it take to make good contact?

Good Balance

Proper Timing

Keeping your eye on the ball

Hitting the sweet spot

Loading up to transfer power into the ball

Practice/Repetition

You must swing

Let’s use these ideas in how we can make a good connection to God?  Make good contact…

Balance: priorities

Proper Timing: Put God First

Keep your eye on the ball: Stay focused

Hitting the Sweet spot: application of God’s word

Loading up to transfer power into the ball: study

Practice/Repetition: keep God’s commandments

You must swing: Get Started

What is your measurement device?

What's the scale you use to measure?

What are you measuring?

Why are you measuring?

Matthew 7:2 Whatever measure you use it will be measured back to you

The direct context is judging someone… the way you judge it;ll be judged back to you, whatever measure you use…

What is the measurement you use against yourself?

Is it different from what you use against others?

I’d argue that it should be, it’s necessary to be different. You may raise an eyebrow to that, but hear me out…