Humility Training Through Authorities

Titus 3:1-2 NKJV

I realized the objective here is to be ready for every good work in humility to everyone around me; and God gives me opportunity to be equipped for this under authorities in surroundings like my workplace where I can hone in on my humility.

Thoroughly Equipped

2 Timothy 3:17 NKJV

Lord, I want to be thoroughly equipped to carry out the good works You have initiated around me.

Not Playing at Their Levels

[S] 1 Peter 2:15 (NIV) -- For it is God's will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people.

[O] Natural way to fight against foolish people is to to ignore them or be just like one of them.  However God's way is to not give in to the others ways but to stay in paths of righteous.  Continuously doing good to those who are ignorant is not an easy act to follow but that's the way God desires for His followers to follow.

[A] Doing Good when things are tough can be a true test of my trust in God.  I must trust that doing good despite the circumstances is the path God teaches me to take. I realize that there are some difficult people in my life so this wisdom is something I need to treasure in my heart all the time.

[P] Dear Father, please continue to infuse in me these wonderful traits so that my heart will be overflowing with Your foundational principles.  In Jesus' name.  Amen.

Scripture to Equip Myself

[S] 2 Timothy 3:16-17 --
16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

[O] Our company is having a bake-off contest for employees to show off their baking skills.  As each of the contestants explain the process of preparing and making the desserts it is quite amazing at how much effort they put in to present (and to win) the goodies.  God's Scripture to us is like that where God put together an amazing package of principles and wisdom for us to follow in order to face all aspects of life and to produce good works in the midst of them all.

[A] The ultimate purpose of the Scripture is to equip me for every good work.  So as I read more of His Scripture, my life should produce more good works. If not, then I'm not soaking up His word correctly.

[P] Dear Father, thank You for the wonderful Scripture for me to be equipped to serve others and You to produce many good works.  May I have to right perspectives at all times to equip myself in doing just this on daily basis. In Jesus' name.  Amen.

Perfecting the Good Works

[S] Philippians 1:6 --
  ⁶For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.

[O] Paul's charge to the Philippians believers about how he believes God will complete the wonderful works He had begun even though as human beings we run up against discouragements, failures, and obstacles along the way.  Our short-sightedness will most definitely restrict us to focus on the problems at hand forgoing the vision God initially placed on our hearts but this verse encourages us to believe that it is He who began the work in the first place will bring it to completion one way or another.  It's not about how I will carry it to completion.

[A] My mind's been pre-occupied with how to lay the foundation for the small group ministry at our church and with about 10 months into the process from ground zero, we're going through some challenges (which was expected) and boy they can become so enlarged as huge road blocks.  But I am going to surrender them all to Him who began this good work because He knows what's going on and He has full control over them to bring it through to completion in His timing.

[P] Dear God, I surrender this small group ministry to You. It's so easy to catch myself focusing on the achievement aspects of the ministry in my own perspectives but in the end it's about how You will carry this out to display Your power and wonder.  So continue to humble me to stay on my knees following after Your leadership.  Please continue to encourage the leaders and potential leaders as we approach them to join us.  In Jesus' name.  Amen.