pastorjohnb

Thoughts and musings on faith and our mighty God!

Tag Archives: humble


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Humble

In all of creation, God bestowed upon mankind alone the ability to pray.  It is a great honor to be able to intercede for one another in prayer.  In prayer we can also find great comfort.  In prayer we can find strength and peace.

Yet we are also just a part of creation.  In our worlds and in our lives there is just so much we cannot control.  At times we cannot control even ourselves, often falling into sin.

In Psalm 25 the writer recognizes all of this.  He seeks what we seek – help to trust in God and to walk in His ways, forgiveness of our sins, and guidance for the humble.  For the humble?  Why must we be humble?

When we are humble we first remember that God is the creator.  All is within His grasp, all is under His control.  We are reminded of His supremacy.

When we are humble we recognize that we are not the only creation of God.  Each and every person is a child of the King.  In humility we treat all of our brothers and sisters with love, care, honor, and respect.

And lastly, when we are humble we come to see ourselves as we are: imperfect people, incapable of accomplishing much of significance on our own.  In humility we come to see how much we need God.  We come to see that even our gifts, talents, and all that we have come from Him.  With a humble heart, may we offer ourselves in service to our God this day.

Scripture reference: Psalm 25: 1-10

 


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Sing Mary’s Song

Mary’s song is a beautiful song of hope, compassion, and faith.  It is a song that connects all of Israel’s past yet speaks at the same time of things to come.  Mary sings of a Jesus that she is only just beginning to carry in her womb.

Mary is full of joy and gives all the glory to God.  She knows how special her role is and also that she was selected out of many possible mothers, yet she is still humble.  She is glad for the role God has given her, knowing she is blessed.

Her song speaks so well of the role Jesus will play.  She sings of him offering mercy to those who fear him.  She sings of how he will minister – scattering the proud, bringing down rulers, lifting the humble, feeding the hungry, sending the rich away.  Only through the presence of the Holy Spirit could she sing such a song.

During this holy season may we also sing Mary’s song.  But may we also blend it with our story as we allow the Spirit’s presence into our story too.  May we share the story of what Jesus has done for us as we also bring the good news of Jesus Christ to others.

Scripture reference: Luke 1: 46-55


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One Father and One Teacher

On occasions we can be a lot like the Pharisees and teachers of the law.  On occasion we may say one thing and do another or we may ask someone to do something we would never do ourselves.  At times we may like to be in the spotlight a little too much yet at other times we are all too content to let someone else finally do what we could have done in the first place.  Sometimes we do not seem to know who is leading or who is setting the example to follow.

We are called to love one Father and to follow only one Teacher.  God the Father loves us like no earthly father ever could.  Through his Spirit, He deftly guides and leads us through life.  Jesus is the teacher and our one Lord.  His teachings and example show us the way to truly live and how to really love others as self.  His sacrifice bought us freedom from sin.

In Matthew 23:12 we are reminded to be humble.  The souls we remember today are not remembered for their positions or their pocketbooks, but for how they lived their lives in humble service to God and King.  May we too serve God with a humble heart and love others like Jesus loves them – with all of our being and with all we have to offer.

Scripture reference: Matthew 23: 1-12


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What Is Our Response?

In our culture today we view greatness in terms of superior athletic prowess or in terms of vast amounts of money in the bank or in terms of captivating beauty or musical talent or in terms of controlling a vast economic empire.  Yet for some they are one injury or poor decision from being just like the everyone else.  For others it is simply time that robs them of their greatness.

But the one who created the land and sky and creatures from the chaos and the one who raised His Son from the grave does not change.  His greatness remains.  The same God who spoke and created the world whispers in our ear through the voice of the Holy Spirit and through the words we read in the Bible.  The same God who allowed His Son to be crucified for our sins loves us as much today as He loved us that day.

And what is our response to God’s greatness?  To His unchanging and amazing love for us?  We seek to be humble by letting go of self.  We seek to be forgiving by letting go of judging.  We seek to be more prayerful by letting go of idle talk.  Through these things may we glorify our God!!

Scripture reference: Psalm 86: 8-10


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Make Some Room!

“Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to the Gentiles.” (1 Corinthians 1:22-23) In today’s world isn’t it much the same? Don’t some people look for answers that are both impressive and tangible and don’t some seek to see some amazing feat that awes them? Only then do they consider something.

God chose those who were lowly to carry out his work. God chose the weak and the non-powerful to share the message. Why? So that the world could see that this amazing power and love came not from human hands but from the one true God. It is like when that kid in class that never says anything spouts out the most amazing insight – all just turn and look at them in awe. It is like when that Nazarene carpenter brought that young man back from the dead or when he gave a man back his sight or when he confounded the intelligence of the Pharisee who was trying to trip him up.

Today the power of the cross comes not from displays of power but through displays of self-emptying service. It comes not from flexing muscles in the academic, athletic, or corporate world but from stepping into someone’s world who needs a helping hand and serving them like Christ would have. It comes not from punishing another for their mistake, but in reaching out a hand of forgiveness and seeing with eyes of understanding and compassion. We are called to empty ourselves of self – ever wonder why? So that there is more room for Jesus!!!


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Asking the Right Question

Micah was a prophet in the old testament. In chapter six God, through Micah, begins by calling the people into account and they respond with a ‘what more can I do?’ attitude. God could just as easily be speaking to us today. Although we do not make animal sacrifices to atone for our sins, we do make what we call ‘sacrifices’ to God. We give Him a whole hour on Sunday morning, maybe two if we go to Sunday school! We give Him a few hours once a month to serve a meal at the mission or to help with a project at church or in the community. And then if we have a twinge of guilt over not doing more for our faith, we shrug and whine out, ‘what more can I do?’ And just like the Israelites, God looks down, gives us a loving smile, and lets us know we have our attitude all wrong.

In verse 7 of Micah 6 the people ask mockingly if God wants the first born of their bodies for the sins of their souls. What a powerful question! Maybe the people were thinking back to Genesis 22 where Abraham goes as far as having his son Isaac bound and upon the altar’s wood – ready to be sacrificed. As Abraham raised the knife, the angel of the Lord intervened. But don’t you think God wishes they (and we) had that much faith in Him?

The attitude that God desires is not for us to offer up our own son or daughter for the sins of our souls. He already did that with His son Jesus. The price for us has already been paid through Jesus’ blood on the cross. But in verse 8 God spells out what He does expects of us: “He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.”

And this is a 24/7 request – not an hour on Sunday, a few hours here and there once a month. It is about being in relationship with Christ ALL the time. It is about being in the world and not succumbing to what the world says is important. It is treating our fellow man with justice. It is about extending mercy to those in need. It is about walking humbly and acknowledging that it is God who is in control of our lives. In the end, our question should not be ‘what more can I do?’ but ‘what else CAN I do?’