The Power of Humble
Lately it seems like everywhere I go I keep bumping into a two word message from God. Be Humble. Last weekend at Calvary we pondered James 4:1-10, where it says stuff like, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” and “Humble yourself before God and he will lift you up.” But it’s everywhere I’ve been going lately. Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount — the beatitudes part — “Blessed are the poor in spirit (a phrase meaning humble) for theirs is the Kingdom of God.
Then it popped up again in our LifeJournal reading, the beginning of August, Isaiah 66:1-2. “Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool. Where is the house that you will build me? And where is the place of my rest? For all those things my hand has made and all those things exist,” says the Lord. “But on this I will look: On him who is humble and of a contrite spirit and who trembles at my word.”
It’s like God is saying that everything else is old hat for the one who made the heavens and the earth. Facilities will not impress him. Building campaigns do not get him excited. He is not constantly on the search for the next great sunset; he can set that up whenever he chooses. Every great strategy and project, every grand dream and vision every conceived is ho-hum, compared to this one thing. He will not rest until he looks upon a person who is humble and contrite of spirit, a person who will listen with awe and respect.
Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it is thinking more of God. Humility is taking yourself out of the center so that you do not end up alone in the circle. Humility comes when I view all of life through the lens of God. Humility is strength under control. It is soothing medicine and a gently breeze. It is speaking truth with grace. It does not get defensive and it is always patient. Humility is servanthood in secret. Humility is taking myself not so seriously but taking God very seriously.
And when I humble myself before God — he lifts me higher than I could ever imagine. So how is your humility?