Dear Friends,
This week one man prayed with me according to the pattern of Luke 18:13 & Romans 10:9.
This man is a middle-aged professional scuba diver living in the Southeast US. Unmarried and no children. He is a strikingly handsome and articulate man, possessing qualities that, drawn by the world’s accolades, could easily lead anyone astray. He wrote:
Hello Dr. James, I grew up in an obsessively agnostic household that pantomimed Christianity on Christmas and Easter. Now at the threshold of middle age, I am adrift with no semblance of faith or direction. I would greatly appreciate any help you could provide in why I should believe in the resurrection of Jesus. Thank you for your time and consideration.
That’s a frank portrayal of the defeated state of many.
Matthew 15:8-9 “This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far away from Me. But in vain do they worship Me.”
So we met. He listened attentively. He immediately prayed with me according to the texts noted in Luke 18:13 & Romans 10:9. I committed him to daily Bible reading and discipleship. I pray that he follows through.
Humbling oneself is never easy, but it’s harder when well-endowed with unmerited charm. King Saul was a man of great stature and handsome appearance (I Sam 9:2), so you might think that he would be content with such giftings. Such is rarely the case. King Saul became uncontrollable, rebellious, and prone to prideful jealousy (I Sam 13:8-14; 15:10-23; I Sam 18:6-9).
Maybe we should thank God more often for our physical and mental limitations in life lest we more easily be drawn into ugly conceit. As Watchman Nee, the superb Chinese Christian teacher who spent 20 years of his life imprisoned for his witness, wrote, while reflecting upon King Saul and his prideful downfall, “May the Lord keep us little in our own eyes.”
God bless,
Jim Tour
