Responses To God Moments Series

RESPONSES TO GOD MOMENTS

1 Pet 5

I want to share with you a story about a very interesting well-educated Greek philosopher whose name is Dr. Alexander Popaderos. And Dr. Popaderos every summer on the island of Crete taught a class on ethics for two weeks. And this particular summer just as he was getting ready to close the class, the last few minutes of the class, he said, “Now are there any questions before we go?” And just as he was getting ready to say, “OK then you’re dismissed,” a little man in the back of the room, a rather timid looking man, sort of carefully raised his hand and said, “Dr. Popaderos,” “Yes” “I have a question” “Yes, what is it?” He said, “I’d like to know, what is the meaning of life?” As you can imagine, people were ready to go home, and they were very irritated by this little fellow’s heavy question! Dr. Popaderos very quickly quieted the group, he said to the class, “You know, if you don’t mind I’d like to answer that question.” He reached into his back pocket, and took out his wallet. He took out of the wallet a little mirror about the size of a fifty-cent piece, honed down on the edges, kind of sparkling. And then he told this tale, he said, “When I was a child, I began to realize that I could have so much fun with that mirror. I would simply catch the glint of the Sun, and shine that mirror into an otherwise darkened place. As I grew older I began to learn that this is no child’s toy. This is really a metaphor for my life. Now I am not the light—I am not the source of the light. I am simply a broken mirror fragment. But if I allow the sun to shine on my mirror fragment, it is amazing what light I can bring into darkness.” Then he said, “Ladies and Gentlemen, that is the meaning of life.” Each of us is a mirror fragment. We are not the Light. We are not the source of the Light. We are simply a broken mirror fragment. But when we permit the SON to hit our mirror fragment, and then bounce off into the life of a darkened heart, there can be change, there can be illumination.

How do you respond to your God moments? Let me define God moments. You might be thinking “epiphanies”; or angels in the sky. Listen, there is no such thing as coincidence in the life of a Christian. God is in control. He will allow things to enter your life. He will bring people and situations into your life. And how you respond to your circumstance determines God’s response.

REFLECTING GOD’S LIGHT IN…

GOD MOMENTS REQUIRE US TO BE HUMBLE.

"God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." 6Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.

I must recognize that the light doesn’t start with me; I didn’t create the light; and I cannot control the light! If I am in line with God, I can be assured that the light will shine through me.

If you go back up to verse five you will see that this is the third “be humble” statement!

What is God trying to say to you? Far too often our actions reflect pride. We are proud! “If you hurt me, then I will retaliate! If you hurt my church, then I will respond appropriately. You are not going to take advantage of me!” I am learning this humility concept. I have to retrain my mind everyday.

Listen, when you are proud God opposes you. ASK YOUR NEIGHBOR, “do you want God to oppose you?” Think about it.

How many need grace? Listen to this verse, “God opposes the proud but GIVES grace to the humble.”

As a believer in Christ we are to walk humbly. This implies that though we may have a “high” position in society, or we may have power, wealth and even fame, we are to carry ourselves in a lowly manner. I know pastors who have a large number in their following, but you cannot touch them with a ten foot pole. And then there are those pastors that have thousands following them, but you wouldn’t know it. They are so available and approachable. You know people that have money but you couldn’t tell it by seeing them walk down the street.

How people feel around you is significant in God’s eyes. You determine how others feel by how you act; the vibes that you put off.

God will give you “God opportunities” daily. How you respond to them is up to you! But know this, you are not to pray about humility, you are not to merely feel humble, YOU ARE TO ACT HUMBLE!