Change of direction

This morning I prayed Philippians 2:3 in the second day of my pre-voting booth prayer closet time. it is clear biblical instruction about the place of self in life's larger scheme and the direct influence of a humble spirit on everything we do. The admonition to "do nothing" crosses every life path, giving this verse and many others like it pivotal access to even the smallest segments among our thoughts and actions. The continued command to "count others as more significant than yourselves" turns the lesson plan to our relational lives, perhaps the most important element of our daily witness. It's a familiar teaching---

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more

significant than yourselves.

Philippians 2:3, ESV

The outcome? I just couldn't post the blog I had written earlier about sophomoric thinking and the coming election. Doing my usual re-read and editing after the morning devotional time I was convicted that my expressions about five often heard phrases from the different camps in the Presidential race could be considered insulting to people I really care about. The point of conviction in that prayer time wasn't that I was wrong about any of the five or that I was fearful of responses from others. With little "deliberative" in my signature strength themes fear isn't something I wrestle with. That may be a little prideful, I'll admit. The rub for me was the motivation of such a blog. Was it to inform, challenge, or teach the sophomores out there? Or, was it to boost my readership, create some buzz on social media, or make myself appear more a senior than a fellow sophomore?

If it was the latter then it was wrong, a motive of selfish ambition and conceit. To publish even truth under that impulse is self-centered. To be praying for humility and then be insulting or condescending to others is hypocritical. So, there will be no post today about sophomoric thinking and this election

These are serious times. There are metaphorical freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and seniors experiencing the phases of spiritual maturity and personal growth. God has revealed a plan for each of us in this journey and we must emphasize it all the time, especially in times of stress. Paul wrote about it too---

We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and

not to please ourselves.

Romans 15:2, ESV

It's another layer of the humility thing, not pleasing ourselves. May I learn it soon.