Leaven: Picking out things from scripture that you know you “get right” and blasting your trumpet continually in this way.
Testimony: Sharing things from scripture that convicted you to personal repentance and humbly admitting your own failures while praising God for revealing and delivering and empowering change.
We should look at our habits and tendencies when it comes to our “public prayers” and “street corner preaching” online — to see what we are “shouting from the rooftops” and whether it comes from a place of humble awe and wonder concerning this Good News of Jesus Christ — or a place of prideful religion saying, “I do X/Y/Z but look at ‘them’ and what ‘they’ do!”
I say this knowing that many of my own messages fall short in this area. Lord, help us to find that position of washing feet, of inviting in — not of accusing and casting stones — of proclaiming YOUR GLORY, not our own.
And don’t let anyone call you ‘Teacher,’ for you have only one teacher, the Messiah. The greatest among you must be a servant. But those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.
Matthew 23:10-12 NLT
Are we standing on our proverbial street corner proudly saying, “You should learn from me!”
Or are we proclaiming, “Come and listen to the Teacher, the Christ, the Savior of the world!”
Lord, help us. Amen.
Harold J. Ballinger 