COMPETING
IN HOLINESS

Topics: Arrogance; God’s Holiness; Humility; Pride

References: Psalm 18:24–27; James 4:5–12

A pastor walked into his church and felt an overwhelming sense of God’s holiness. He went to the front, knelt at the altar rail, and began to beat himself on the chest, crying out, “O Lord, I am nothing!”

Moments later, the minister of music entered the church. He too felt the overwhelming presence of God and knelt beside the pastor, striking his chest and saying, “O Lord, I am nothing. I am nothing.”

One by one, other staff members entered: the minister of recreation, the minister of education, and more—who all knelt, bemoaning their “nothingness” before the Almighty.

The church custodian also got caught up in the revival, beating on his chest, and saying, “O Lord, I am nothing. I am nothing.”

The pastor looked up, saw the janitor, and nudged the minister of music. “Well, well,” he said. “Just look at who thinks he’s nothing!”

—Don Aycock, Memphis, Tennessee