Weekly Newsletter 06/29/2023

June 29th, 2023
by Dmitriy Zherebnenkov

Shalom!

Dear church, periodically we need to have an honest conversation about pride and humility. Many of our problems in relationships arise because of our pride. We know that God opposes the proud and exalts the humble (Jas. 4:6; 1 Pet. 5:5). But oftentimes the process of humility is not always clear or practiced in our lives. Let’s once again consider how to practically grow in humility.

Jesus Christ lived an exemplary life that reflects God in this world and that God expects from us:

He used His power for the good of others even when it caused Him pain.
He loved those around Him more than they could ever love Him back.
He never got angered by the disrespect that was shown Him.

This is the path of humility:
“I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love…” (Eph. 4:1-2).

To walk in the path of humility, begin with memorizing these few facts:

We are not God. Instead, we belong to God. We are simply people, and we’re not able to walk or breathe without God’s strength and care (Job 38).
We are visceral haters. We are inclined to disobey God and offend others. When we grow in wisdom we find that our sins are worse than we could have imagined, and God’s mercy is greater than we can fathom.
When we are united to Christ, we receive everything necessary to be able to live a righteous life. Everything that belongs to Him also belongs to us, and when we accept His gifts, we automatically humble ourselves, having received such undeserved mercies.

No matter what we may encounter in life, all the above facts will be “anchors” for our souls. We walk before God, not before other people. We say “thank you” instead of “mine, to me…” We think of ourselves as servants, not masters.

When someone rejects us, which will happen, a humble person will feel the pain but will still remain at peace and focused toward heaven.

On behalf of the elders of GFC,
Dmitriy Zherebnenkov

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Scripture To Memorize

²⁷Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel,

²⁸and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God.

²⁹For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake,

³⁰engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.

Philippians 1:27-30