PASTORS have a heavenly calling... but still have clay feet. The great Apostle said, "For in no respect was I inferior to the most eminent apostles, even though I am a nobody" (2 Cor. 12) He thought of himself as "a NOBODY" but who really was a SOMEBODY who affected EVERYBODY in the Church of Jesus Christ. But, nevertheless, he unbelievably refers to himself as a "nobody."
This same Apostle warned all of us about the ever present danger of thinking more highly of ourselves than we ought: "For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith" (Romans 12:3).
When we do exalt ourselves God has His ways of reminding us (and sometimes crushingly so) that He "knows our frame and remembers we are but dust." And this means dirt dust not gold dust. He knows it and wants us to remember it:
"Just as a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him. For He Himself knows our frame; He is mindful that we are but dust" (Psalm 103:13,14).
St. Augustine remarked: "It was pride that changed angels into devils; it is humilty that makes men as angels." I guess it's better to be a humble worm than a proud angel.
- dick christen
