11-28-24-DAILY READING-ENG.

EXPERIENCING THE SPIRIT

                                       HUMILITY FIRST

My father was a branch manager for a bank all my life. Fortunately, he was a Christian businessman with great spiritual integrity. He was one of the godliest men I've ever known. In contrast to many of his colleagues, he knew God and walked by faith. He helped finance small businesses not by the world's standards but by God's. He based his choices on character and potential good, often to the amazement of others. And God blessed not only his work at the bank but also the entire community.

I recall that he would often talk about the danger of choosing leaders based on natural skill rather than on spiritual integrity and maturity. He was very concerned about people and their impact upon God's work. God is using men and women of great talent and ability, but when He does, the first assignment of the Holy Spirit is to bring humility. They must cease to compare themselves to others and instead measure themselves against almighty God. The Holy Spirit must deal with their self-image and replace it with the image of Christ. That's not an easy task.