Truth

Ever heard the insulting remark that someone is "dumb as a rock"?
Think about this: Natural forces break stones down to become soil.
And God created Adam out of... what?

So, Jesus' statement was not an insult, but a statement of truth to
give perspective to the arrogant people standing in front of Him.

It is always good to keep things in perspective. If God sees value
in an inanimate stone, how much more does He value us?
  

Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to
  yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' For I tell you that out
  of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. (Luke 3:8 NIV)

Bad Influences

While not the most eloquent way to express this, it communicates the
message: "Don't let people mess up your life!"

Remember this about bad influences: Regardless of whose idea it is,
you and you alone are responsible for what you do with your life.
  

My son, if sinners lure you, do not go along. If they say, "Come
  with us. Let's set an ambush to kill someone. Let's hide to ambush
  innocent people for fun. We'll find all kinds of valuable
  possessions. We'll fill our homes with stolen goods. Join us. We'll
  split the loot equally." My son, do not follow them in their way. Do
  not even set foot on their path. (Pro 1:10-11, 13-15 GW)

Focus on you

This is what I have observed in my spiritual life:

 1. The more time I spend developing my relationship with God,
    the less time I have to point out someone else's error.

 2. The closer I get to Him and the more mature I become in our
    relationship, the less I care about what anyone else does.

We are each accountable to Him for ourselves--and ourselves only.
  

You, then, why do you judge your brother? Or why do you look down on
  your brother? For we will all stand before God's judgment seat. It
  is written: "'As surely as I live,' says the Lord, 'every knee will
  bow before me; every tongue will confess to God.'" So then, each of
  us will give an account of himself to God. Therefore let us stop
  passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to
  put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother's way.
  (Rom 14:10-13 NIV)

God Knows Whats Best

This is an almost universal experience: You pray, do not get what
you asked for, then become offended because God did not answer your
prayer. Some have even turned away from Him at that point.

I am humbled to realize all the grief and tragedy God saved me from
by not giving me some things I asked for. Knowing now what I did not
know then enables me to trust His choices for me--even when I do not
understand them or they conflict with what I (think I) want.
  

 He let loose the east wind from the heavens and led forth the south
  wind by his power. He rained meat down on them like dust, flying
  birds like sand on the seashore. He made them come down inside their
  camp, all around their tents. They ate till they had more than
  enough, for he had given them what they craved. (Psa 78:26-29 NIV)

Huh!

Someone once told me: "I have a sweater like that. It's the same, only
different." (My head probably tilted kind of like my dog's...)

That is like God in a way: A paradox. A contradiction. Always the
same. Always different. He never changes, and yet, the way He
interacts with us always changes--with circumstances, our level of
maturity, what we know (or need to know), timing, etc.

As long as our hope and faith remain anchored in Him, our
relationship with Him will always be the same, even as it changes.
  

Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very
  clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an
  oath. God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it
  is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the
  hope offered to us may be greatly encouraged. We have this hope as
  an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner
  sanctuary behind the curtain (Heb 6:17-19 NIV)

Just Know It Works

God has set many paradoxes and (seeming) contradictions as law in
the spiritual continuum (spirit realm, "in the spirit", or by
whatever other term you prefer to label it), e.g., lose your life to
save it; humble yourself to be exalted; give and it shall be given.

Whether we understand these things, agree with them, or even like
them is irrelevant: It is the way things operate in God's kingdom.

His Universe, His rules. He has already shown us how it works.
 

The greatest among you must be a servant. But those who exalt
  themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be
  exalted. (Mat 23:11-12 NLT)

Get Off The Fence

I am one of those "yes-or-no, on-or-off, right-or-left" kind of
people who does not like gray areas, mediocrity, or an unwillingness
to commit (which can be bothersome to non-committal-type folks).

Elijah was one of those, and he was especially bothersome to Ahab
and Jezebel. God is too, apparently, because He immediately answered
Elijah's prayer with fire (v.38). No gray area there!

So, as Elijah said that day, "If the LORD is God, follow him."

  So Ahab summoned all the people and the prophets to Mount Carmel.
  Then Elijah stood in front of them and said, "How long are you going
  to waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him! But
  if Baal is God, then follow him!" But the people were completely
  silent. (1Ki 18:20-21 NLT)