humility – Page 5 – Seek Grow Love

There is no doubt that you have run across the word “pride” more times than usual these last couple of weeks. While we may not participate in the spirit of this month, it is hard to deny we love celebrating our identities and choices, because in essence, they become the composition of who we are, whether we like it or not. I am proud of the family I have made, the education I’ve earned, the garden I keep, and the poetry I write. Each of these things requires time, effort, energy, and dedication to make it beautiful. These are my efforts, my pride and joy. However, when I think of God, beginning with the incomparable way he makes the heavens and the earth, my feats are futile. We are lying to Heavenly Father and ourselves, if we come to any other emotion than humility.

“God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” – James 4:6

Yet too often we put our hope in the things that are fleeting or powers that are finite. When we depend on our power alone or put our faith in anything other than God, we will fall short. We have access to a God who stands outside of time and has infinite power, so why is it that we must be weaned off of seeking answers from a lesser source? It is pride. But aren’t we entitled to something for our efforts? The answer is yes – death! But by the grace of God, we do not receive it when we humble ourselves and ask for help from Jesus Christ, and then His Father takes over.

But I have stilled and quieted my soul; like a weaned child with its mother, like a weaned child is my soul within me. – Psalm 131:2

Paul, a former Pharisee, clothes himself in humility. He realized that his accumulation of titles, his formal training, his status, and his education were a bogus bunch of accumulation; in fact, these things become his greatest humility when he states, “Although I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people, this grace was given me; to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ.” (Ephesians 3:9) It is when Paul submits to Jesus that he knows the full reach of the Gospel message. Paul decreases, Jesus increases, and the Kingdom of God grows by leaps and bounds with Gentiles receiving the Good News.

Let the message of pride be our call to humility. When we are asked to define who we are, put aside the usual string of things that are our pride and joy. Let our first answer be we are humbled before God, and that He is the source of all we have and do.

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” – Ephesians 3:20-21

-Aaron Winner

Reflection Questions

What does it mean to have “(insert your name here) decrease and Jesus increase”? (based on words of John the Baptist – John 3:30) What would it look like? What would it sound like? What would be different from last week?
What are the things that you COULD take pride in? When is it good to remember God opposes the proud? How can you work at canning the pride and showing more humility?
Look at the prayers of Paul in Ephesians 3. Does this look like your current prayer list? What might you add to your list? If you don’t currently have a written list, give it a try, write it out and revisit it.

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Wisdom, Please

Old Testament: 1 Kings 3-4

Poetry: Proverbs 31

New Testament: Acts 25

Throughout the month of May, we have been gleaning Solomon’s wisdom, as we read a proverb each day. In our broken world, wisdom is the ability to distinguish between what’s good and what’s fallen. It allows us to see from God’s perspective and make choices that honor Him. Solomon received wisdom in the same manner we do: asking for it.

At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night, and God said, “Ask what I shall give you.”

And now, O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of David my
father, although I am but a little child. I do not know how to go out or come in. And your servant is in the midst of your people whom you have chosen, a great people, too many to be numbered or counted for multitude. Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?” (1 Kings 3:5, 7-9, ESV).

Solomon was humble. He knew that he could not navigate his responsibilities on his own. He refers to himself as a little child in charge of too many people to even count. The first step in asking for wisdom is recognizing you need it.

Solomon was prepared to receive. He goes to Gibeon to make a sacrifice on the
same altar he once sacrificed one thousand burnt offerings to God. Gibeon was
considered the most holy place at the time because it was home to the Tabernacle that Moses built (2 Chronicles 1:2-3). Solomon’s dedication is astonishing! I think we are sometimes quick to overlook how incredible facts like this are when reading our Bibles. I mean—imagine slaughtering, draining, cutting, and burning one thousand animals. It’s this dedication and intimacy with God that puts him in the posture to hear God’s voice and receive His gifts.

Solomon’s priorities were in order. He could’ve asked for wealth, to live forever, or a plethora of wives (well… he kinda does that later). Instead, he asks for wisdom to govern Israel, God’s chosen people, better. Solomon knew the great calling on his life and chose a gift accordingly. God honored the way Solomon ordered his desires and blessed him with the riches, honor, and longevity in addition.

At first, it’s easy to be jealous of God’s blank check offer to Solomon. But what if I told you that God has extended the same offer to you? Like Solomon, we can receive wisdom just by asking for it. God wants us to see from His perspective, to discern right from wrong, and make choices that honor Him. It’s really a win-win situation.

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without
reproach, and it will be given him. (James 1:5, ESV)

God gives wisdom generously. Have you asked?

-Mackenzie McClain

Reflection Questions:

Have you humbled yourself before God? We live in a broken, gray world that
requires more than your own understanding. Unpopular opinion: you actually
don’t have what it takes (on your own, that is). You need God’s help!
Are you prepared to receive? Are you ready to listen to God’s voice? Do you
spend your days with your Bible open, hands folded in prayer, and surrounded by godly influences?
Are your priorities in order? Are you seeking after the right things?

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Preparing our Attitude

*Theme WEek – Jesus: John 13

Old Testament Reading: Deuteronomy 31 & 32

Psalms Reading: Psalm 92

I used to read the Gospels and try and compare myself with various characters. And I never wanted to see myself in Peter, and yet here we are. I never wanted to compare myself to the man who seemed to so frequently fly off the handle or get things wrong. I didn’t want to be like the one who sunk in the waves and denied his Christ three times in one night. But I most definitely feel a kinship with him, especially when I read this passage.

Poor Peter. His Rabbi, who he has been so close to and loved so much, is humbling himself to wash Peter’s feet and he’s clearly mortified. This was something only the lowliest of servants did. And here was Christ, washing his feet, when none of his disciples had thought to do the same for him. And then when Christ says his disciple can’t be clean unless his feet are washed, he insists Christ wash his hands and head as well. He’s so desperate and proud that it’s a little heartbreaking. Because he has it all wrong.

Jesus is about to die. He’s about to suffer and die for each of them, and for each of us. And they all have to humble themselves enough to accept that sacrifice. They cannot save themselves. They cannot fully cleanse themselves. Only by accepting Christ and his act of servitude for us can we be clean.

And not only that, but we have to follow Christ’s example and humble ourselves to serve others. We are not too good to be served, and we are not too good to serve either.

Peter is fighting this internal battle with himself. He wants to serve Christ, but can’t accept with grace the gift of service that has been given to him. He wants to serve Christ, but perhaps not humble himself so low to serve others in this manner as well.

Jesus loved his followers dearly. In the beginning of the passage it says that he loved them to the end. This means he loved them to the fullest of capacity and without end. And here he has poured out every bit of himself into complete humility and served them in the basest of ways.

Our savior did that for us when he was tortured and crucified. This is the attitude of love and service we should have for others.

Take some time today and prepare your attitude with me. Ask yourself:

Have I truly acknowledged the deep, humbling act of service that Jesus has done for me?

In what areas of my life am I still too proud?

Am I focusing too much on the fact that my feet climbed out of the boat and walked on water, rather than the fact that my feet also sank beneath the waves and I had to be pulled out?

How can I serve someone else in humility as well this week?

Am I showing others a deep love and a servant’s heart?

My prayer for each of us today is that we truly and fully recognize the gift that has been given to us and accept it with full humility, acknowledging our great need for it. I also pray that as we acknowledge our need for salvation and cleansing, we turn and offer grace and service to others as well, so that they can see Christ serving in us.

Jenn Haynes

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Be Humble

Old Testament Reading: Numbers 12 & 13

Psalms Reading: Psalm 65

New Testament Reading: 2 Corinthians 2

In the Numbers 12-13 reading today we start with what appears to be some sibling rivalry. Miriam and Aaron are sharing some negative murmurings about their brother Moses (verses 1 and 2) in what appears to be some pride or opposition to his leadership. Years after watching him float down the Nile river in a basket to safety to later lead the Hebrews out of bondage in Egypt, Miriam now sounds envious. But, while she and Aaron are whining for attention, verse 3 indicates quite a contrast in Moses. Moses was more humble than anyone on the face of the earth!

In this case, the word used for “humble” is a Hebrew word used of Israel itself many times in the OT, suggesting someone who is “poor, lowly, meek, depressed in circumstance, may be oppressed by rich and powerful. “

But, it appears that the LORD, who of course heard everything Miriam and Aaron said and thought, was displeased with what was in their heart. He rebukes their attitudes and speaking against His chosen servant. Miriam ends up with a leprous skin disease, banned from the camp for 7 days, and caused yet another bump along the road of the Israelites’ pursuit of the promised land. But, there was forgiveness and the chance to move forward, and in chapter 13 we find the Israelites starting to explore Canaan.

This story seems an example of what we see in Proverbs 3:34:

Proverbs 3:34, ESV: Toward the scorners he is scornful, but to the humble he gives favor.

Miriam and Aaron in all their human efforts to be recognized, putting down others along the way, ended up chastised and scorned. Moses was in God’s favor. And while the definition we read of the word humble doesn’t sound all that appealing in some ways, God’s favor certainly does. We know verse 3 commends Moses for his humility, and as we seek to find God’s favor, it seems evident that being humble, lowly, and meek are crucial.

Numbers 13 starts with the exploration of the long-awaited Canaan, and in fact they finally saw the milk, honey, and fruit! But, they also saw the. . . men of great size! Forget that milk and honey! Did you hear about all those “-ites” mentioned in verse 29? And so, they spread some bad reports, show fear, and felt like grasshoppers in comparison. But, of course the LORD is not a grasshopper, and the LORD had told them where they were going, so we’ll have to keep reading this week to see what happened. And if you are looking for an interesting topic to study, check out the various thoughts/research available on the Nephilim mentioned in verse 33. Pretty interesting stuff!

-Jennifer Hall