pastorjohnb

Thoughts and musings on faith and our mighty God!

Tag Archives: humility


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Lean In, Trust

Reading: Psalm 79:1-5

Psalm 79:5 – “How long will you rage, Lord? Forever? How long will your anger burn like fire?”

Today the psalmist asks a question we all ask: How long? In almost every difficult situation that we face and endure, we come to this question. Whether referring to the waves of grief that don’t relent or to the job search that won’t resolve itself or to the bullying that your child faces day after day or to the violence and destruction that the psalmist faces, in times of trial or pain or suffering or grief, we ask God: How long?

While we do not ever receive a specific time and date from God that tells us when relief or resolution will occur, we can have a hand in how we walk in and through these dark valleys. We can choose to shout “How long?” with a clenched fist raised against God. Or we can choose to whisper “How long?” with hands open to receive from God. The psalmist models the second option. For us, we must begin where the psalmist began, naming the situation. In this case, the writer names what it looks and feels like in the aftermath of the Babylonians destroying Jerusalem and the temple. The physical scene is horrific. To look at it and to name it begins to move one past the “Is this real?” stage. While painful, acceptance is an important step in our healing process.

The psalmist is also open and vulnerable with his emotions. From his perspective, all has been done to God’s city, to God’s temple, to God’s people. This goes against previous religious understandings and creates disorientation, forcing a new understanding of God and the world. Adding to the trauma is the ridicule coming from pagan neighbors. At times of grief or suffering or pain perhaps you or someone you know has heard, “If you just did (or didn’t)…” These words sting – as if you would have chosen this terrible outcome.

Laying it all on the table before the Lord and others we love and trust is an act of surrender, a practice in humility. Even as the psalmist asks “How long?” there is a leaning into God’s presence, a trust in God to act and move even in this place of death, loss, suffering… In our times of deep need, may we too be open and vulnerable and honest with God and with those close to us. May our hands be open to receive.

Prayer: Lord God, these initial steps can be so hard. We’d rather close our eyes and withdraw. When this is our first step, Lord, help us to feel your hand reaching out, to sense your Spirit surrounding us. Walk with us in love and grace. Amen.


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Love of God and Other

Reading: 1st Corinthians 13:4-7

1st Corinthians 13:4 – “Love is patient, love is kind, it isn’t jealous… doesn’t brag… isn’t arrogant.”

Photo credit: Freestocks

Continuing in the theme of love of self versus love of God and neighbor, today we turn to a familiar wedding verse. Chapter 13 is titled, “Love: the universal gift” in the Bible I use at home. In this chapter, Paul elevates love above all else.

If one takes just a bit of time and watches or observes someone, it becomes apparent rather quickly if they love self more than God or other. Yes, we all have our bad days and challenging moments, but if one gets a large enough sample size, the answer to who sits on the throne of our heart becomes apparent.

Verse 4 begins with “Love is patient, love is kind.” These observable traits show up, especially in hard situations. To practice patience and kindness at all times is the first sign of love of God and other. Paul continues, love “isn’t happy with injustice.” Yes, to truly live means standing up for the other, usually putting self at risk. Paul adds, “Love puts up with… trusts in… hopes for… endures…” all things. These are all ways that one elevates love of God and other over love of self.

In verses 4-6 Paul shares a list of what love is not. These are also easily observable. Love “isn’t jealous… doesn’t brag… isn’t arrogant… rude… irritable.” Love does not “keep a record of complaints” (wrongs.) There are ways that we keep score, that we try to maintain our place atop the ladder or sand pile, that we love self above all else. May it not be so with you and I.

Prayer: Lord God, in our world and in our culture, there are ample examples of what it is and what it looks like to love self. These ways neglect love of you and therefore love of other. Speak into our hearts, O God, calling us to the most excellent way of love. In humility may we ever seek to love you with our heart, soul, mind, and strength. Amen.


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Imitate Christ, Find Joy

Reading: Philippians 2:1-4

Philippians 2:4 – “Instead of each person watching out for their own good, watch out for what is better for others.”

Selfishness and sinfulness have been a part of the human condition since very early in creation. These two traits are opposed to the will and way of God. Within each of us there is a daily battle between the inherent love of self and the call to live God and neighbor.

In Philippians 2 Paul encourages those in the churches in and around Philippi to imitate Christ. Jesus set for the church and for us the example of what it looks like to daily love God and neighbor more than self. Paul invites his readers – then and now – to find encouragement in Jesus’ example, to find comfort in his love for us, to draw on the power and presence of the Holy Spirit, and to have sympathy (compassion) for others. Paul tells the Philippians that this kind of living will “complete my joy.” Living this way is pleasing to God today.

To live like Christ one must work against our nature to do things for self. Instead, Paul encourages us, writing, “With humility think of others as better than yourselves.” Stripped of arrogance and pride, life is not all about us and our wants and our pleasures. Keeping in line with this practice, Paul then writes, “Instead of each person watching out for their own good, watch out for what is better for others.” Focus on the ways that we can care for and love on others. Focus on the ways that we can provide for and protect our neighbors. Doing these things, we imitate Christ. Doing these things, we find great joy in living for Christ.

Prayer: Lord God, guide us to look outward rather than inward. Break the tendencies to think first of self and to strive for the world’s “success.” Draw us to the heart of Christ, to humble service and sacrificial love. From this place of heart, use us to care for the weak and vulnerable, to feed the hungry and the lonely, to stand for and with the oppressed and the marginalized. As we seek to imitate Christ, fill us with joy. Amen.


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Raining Down Love

Reading: Colossians 3:12-17

Colossians 3:14 – “And over all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.”

Credit: Rebecca Gelaney

Today’s reading is a call to authentic holy living. Paul begins by inviting the Colossians to being “clothed” in the practices and attitudes of Jesus. The Colossians are encouraged to put on “compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.” These five characteristics, when lived out fully each day, would reflect Christ to each other and to the world.

The focus then shifts to the other side of the equation: how to act and be with one another when the other isn’t practicing these Christlike traits. Paul exhorts the believers to be “tolerant with each other” and to regularly practice forgiveness. They are to do these things because God regularly does this with them.

Paul then turns to what John Wesley said “contains the whole of Christian holiness.” This one characteristic connects and undergirds all the others. In verse 14 Paul writes, “And over all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.” In all you do and say and think, lead with love. Doing so we will find that the peace of Christ does control our hearts. Leading in love we will express gratitude to God and for one another. Because of our love for our brothers and sisters in Christ, we will teach and warn each other, helping all to walk in faith.

In all things, in all ways, in all places and times, may we “do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus.” This witness of love holds the power to transform hearts, systems, cultures, and nations. May it be so.

Prayer: Lord God, you call us to be love in the world, to bring light into the darkness. Use us as a witness that stands out from the ways of the world. Use us to rain down love into all of our relationships, into all of the brokenness, into the lives of all that we interact with. Fill us to overflowing with the spirit and heart of Christ, pouring these things back out into the world all around us. Amen.


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Contagious

Reading: 2nd Corinthians 7:5-7

2nd Corinthians 7:6 – “God comforts people who are discouraged, and he comforted us by Titus’ arrival.”

Photo credit: Uta Scholl

As Paul and his companions arrive in Macedonia there is no rest for the weary. There are problems – “external conflict… internal fears.” For Paul and his coworkers these trials and hardships could be barriers to ministry. But God has other plans. In verse 6 we read, “God comforts people who are discouraged, and he comforted us by Titus’ arrival.” At just the needed time, God sends Titus, bringing along the encouragement that he has received himself in Corinth. In turn, Titus encourages Paul and others there in Macedonia.

When one lives out their faith it often inspires others to live out their faith too. This isn’t just true for comfort. It also works this way with peace, joy, trust, generosity, assurance, grace, humility, mercy, contentment, forgiveness… The practices of our faith are contagious!

Titus also brings a personal message for Paul. The church in Corinth longs to see Paul. They want an opportunity to express their regret for what happened during his last visit. On that second visit Paul was deeply hurt. The church has dealt with this person but still wants to apologize and receive forgiveness face to face. This news brings Paul much happiness. To mend a relationship, to offer care and concern, to restore what was broken, these things bring us much joy and happiness too.

Where do we need to bring comfort through our words of reconciliation and grace? Where do we need to respond to the brokenness in our lives or in the world?

Prayer: Lord God, guide our lives, leading us to be people who live out a contagious faith. May the light and love of Christ in our hearts be cast wide in the world, bringing healing and wholeness to our relationships and to other’s lives. Amen.


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Worthy of the Call

Reading: Ephesians 4:1-7

Ephesians 4:2 – “Conduct yourselves with all humility, gentleness, and patience. Accept each other in love.”

Chapter 4 of Ephesians begins with Paul’s call to “live as people worthy of the call” of God. We can see this as the summary statement for what follows in the next few verses. Paul’s focus overall is the unity of the body of believers. The “church” should reflect to the world the love, grace, mercy… of God. To fail to do so greatly damages the church’s ability to witness to the world. If the world cannot see God and Christ in the church and in her actions, then the world will never listen to her words.

With these thoughts in mind, Paul gets down to specifics: “Conduct yourselves with all humility, gentleness, and patience. Accept each other in love.” Practicing these four virtues or behaviors on a regular basis will work to bring unity to the body of believers. Humility works against pride and judging – two primary dividers of any group of people. Gentleness guides our words, our thoughts, our actions, steering them away from gossip, critiquing, and harsh words and actions. Patience raises our levels of understanding concerning our differences in thought, belief, and practice, and it makes us take pause before speaking words that might cause harm or hurt. These first three virtues guide us to accept one another in genuine love, bringing peace and unity to the body of Christ.

When we as individuals and we as the church live out these Christ-following virtues, the oneness that Paul speaks of becomes evident in our lives and in our churches. This draws others towards Christ. Living a life and a faith worthy of our calling matters for us personally and it matters for the watching world. Therefore, in all things may we lift high the Lord our God.

Prayer: Lord God, living out these virtues – humility, gentleness, patience, acceptance – can be challenging. So, Lord, when we’re tempted to be less than you call us to be, whisper your words of love and grace, peace and unity into our ears. Bring before our hearts and hands the example of Christ. Empowered by these reminders, use us to build your kingdom in our hearts and here on earth. Amen.


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An Intent to Obey and Honor

Reading: Luke 15:13-19

Luke 15:16 – “He longed to eat his fill from what the pigs ate, but no one gave him anything.”

Photo credit: Mitchel Lensink

The parable of the lost son is well-known. In his youthful pride the younger son demands his share of the inheritance. He is ready to be his own man. As our reading begins the young man gathers all he has and travels to a land far away to make his mark on the world. But the lost son was not ready. He quickly wasted his wealth in selfish and extravagant living. Far from home, with no resources, the young man suffers during the famine that strikes the land.

The lost son finds work feeding pigs, an unclean animal according to Jewish law. He is low as low can get. In verse 16 we read, “He longed to eat his fill from what the pigs ate, but no one gave him anything.” In deep trouble and in great need, the prodigal son comes to his senses. It may be tempting to tsk-tsk the young man, but we’ve all likely been there. For some of us, more than once or four times. We have tried everything we can think of. We’ve tried bargaining with God. At rock bottom, alongside desperation, humility begins to kick in. A willingness to offer apologies and to seek forgiveness replaced the pride that led us astray.

The young man resolves to go home, to admit his sin against his father and against God, and to ask to simply be a hired hand. This place of mind and heart reminds me of a line from John Wesley’s Covenant Prayer: “I am no longer my own, but thine. Put me to what thou wilt, rank me with whom thou wilt.” It is a prayer of surrender and humility. These words declare an intent to obey and honor God in all things. May this intent be revealed in all we do, say, and think.

Prayer: Lord God, pride is so dangerous. Not only does it place self first, it also places others below our judgment seat. When we enter this dangerous place, O God, lead us to a place of surrender. Maybe through suffering, maybe by another means, draw us back into relationship, back to a place where your will and way become our will and way. Thank you for your patience and for your grace. Amen.


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Reality Check

Reading: Daniel 4:34-37

Daniel 4:37 – “All his [God’s] works are truth, all his paths are justice, and he is able to humble all who walk in pride.”

At the start of Daniel 4 King Nebuchadnezzar praises God as powerful and everlasting. God has just rescued Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego from the fiery furnace. Yes, they were thrown into the furnace because they refused to worship the 90′ statue made in the king’s likeness. God then brings Nebuchadnezzar a dream. None of the king’s sages, diviners… can interpret it. But Daniel can – “because the breath of the holy gods is in you.” The dream reveals that God will drive the king into the wilderness, living as an animal. He will live in this state until he acknowledges that “heaven rules all” – including him.

A year later the king is walking in the palace roof. He says to himself, ‘Isn’t Babylon great… this city built by MY mighty strength and by MY majestic glory?’ The words hadn’t left his mouth before God pronounced judgment on him. We see here how pride is ever there, often just below the surface. There are times when we’ll think how talented or beautiful we are or how wonderful that thing I did was or ___. You fill in the blank. We all can, many times over. Pride is something almost all of us battle with. And thinking too highly of oneself is not the only way pride is revealed.

Nebuchadnezzar’s sentence is immediately carried out. He lives as an animal in the wild for “seven periods of time.” We don’t know how long this was but we do know it was long enough for Nebuchadnezzar to acknowledge God’s authority. In humility he says, “All his [God’s] works are truth, all his paths are justice, and he is able to humble all who walk in pride.” When we get too full of ourselves, when we start judging and playing the comparison game, when we refuse to do a menial task, when we… we too will get a reality check. It might not be immediately, but it will come. The way to avoid this? Walk humbly with God each and every day, acknowledging God’s power and strength over all things. May it be so.

Prayer: Lord God, how often we see pride leading to words, actions, and behaviors that are far less than you call us to be. When we fall into the sun of pride, open our eyes as we look in the mirror. Humble us when needed, returning us to the worship of you instead of self. To you, O God, is all the glory, honor, and praise. Amen.


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Followers and Practicers

Reading: Matthew 5:1-12

Matthew 5:5 – “Happy are people who are humble, because they will inherit the earth.”

The Beatitudes are our focus today. This list mostly of “Happy are…” sayings lay out Jesus’ desires for his followers. As I read this list over and over, trying to settle on a key verse, to be honest, it was hard to pick one. In our current world, there is not only a great need for humility but also for righteousness, mercy, peace, hope.

Jesus begins with spiritual matters. Happy are those who are without hope and who recognize their need for Jesus. Also very likely poor economically, trusting in God will bring a joy or happiness to their lives. Those who grieve the spiritual condition of the nation, they will be made glad (or will be comforted) as they come to recognize that God is in control.

Happy are the humble because they are part of the kingdom now and will one day be part of the new creation. Those who seek and long for righteousness will be filled with faith. Yes, God is faithful and true! Living with a pure heart, one will be closely and intimately connected to God.

Those who practice mercy will receive mercy. Those who are makers of peace will be known as children of God. Definitely happy places to be. But all will not be “easy.” In verses 10-12 Jesus acknowledges a reality. Living in these ways are counter-cultural. Therefore, followers and practicers of the way of Jesus will be harassed, insulted, slandered… here on earth. Take heart though! In the end, the kingdom of heaven will be yours. Hallelujah!

Prayer: Lord God, thank you for the joy and blessing we receive walking faithfully with you. In all ways, help us to be obedient and steadfast, even in the trials and sufferings. Fill us with your word and Spirit. Fill us with your peace, mercy, and love. Guide us to walk in the humble servant’s footsteps of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Amen.


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Humility and Love

Reading: 1st Kings 3:3-14

1st Kings 3:5b – “Ask whatever you wish, and I’ll give it to you.”

In our reading today God comes to Solomon in a dream. He has just become king, succeeding his father David. While David has set a great example for Solomon, all wasn’t perfect. The temple had not yet been built so people are sacrificing at local shrines. As we begin our reading we see that this is also Solomon’s practice. We also see that Solomon loved God and sought to walk according to the Law. Solomon goes to Gibeon and offers a very large sacrifice to God. Gibeon was the location of the Tabernacle. The ark of the covenant, however, was in David’s tent in Jerusalem.

That night God appears to Solomon in a dream. God says to Solomon, “Ask whatever you wish, and I’ll give it to you.” What an open-ended question! Before pressing on in our passage, we pause to ask ourselves: What would be my response to this question? Solomon’s response demonstrates both humility and his love of God. After thanking God for walking with David and for passing the kingship on to him, Solomon acknowledges his youth and inexperience. Accordingly he asks for “a discerning mind in order to govern your people” and for the ability “to discern good from evil.” Solomon also recognizes the impossibility of leading Israel without God’s help.

The Lord is pleased and grants Solomon’s requests. These requests were aligned with God’s will and plans for Solomon and for Israel. In addition, God grants Solomon wealth, fame, and the possibility of “a very long life.” This last part is contingent upon Solomon’s continued faithfulness to God.

Solomon sought to honor God with his request. His humility and Love of God drove his petition. May it be so with us as we lift our petitions to the Lord our God.

Prayer: Lord God, guide us to walk in humility, recognizing our need for your direction on our lives. Lead us to see with honest and clear eyes and hearts, recognizing our own weaknesses. Fill us with your presence, empowering us to bring you the glory in all we say, do, and think. Amen.