“He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way.” Psalm 25:9 NIV
“As we journey every day, requiring His grace afresh every morning, may we remember that He guides us every step of the way in what is right. It is not our intellect that directs and sustains us on the right path, but it is God who does that. Christ is the one who is our wisdom (1 Cor 1:30) and gives us discernment (Phil 1:9).
And as he guides, our posture has to be one of humility, acknowledging that we completely rely on Him in every way, for His word says that he guides the humble.” Manu, from her post, Rest Your Gaze on God
I know this is true because I wrestle with it myself. I also know that recognition (public approval) often leads to pride. And we all know what pride leads to.
I saw this firsthand when I was in a Word of Faith church. When I became a women’s conference speaker, those around me began to make me feel special and important. At a conference where I was speaking, one woman offered to carry my Bible, purse, and notes around for me. I must be important!
“Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.” Proverbs 16:18 NIV
James and John asked Jesus if they could sit on His right and left in Heaven. I think they longed for approval and recognition. Jesus responded by saying,
“… whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant,and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all.” Mark 10:43-44 NIV
Jesus also said, “The greatest among you will be your servant.For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
So I pray, “Create in me a pure heart, O God …” (Psalm 51:10 NIV) “Direct my footsteps according to your word; let no sin rule over me.” (Psalm 119:133 NIV)
When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help. 6 “Lord,” he said, “my servant lies at home paralyzed, suffering terribly.”
7 Jesus said to him, “Shall I come and heal him?”
8 The centurion replied, “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. 9 For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”
10When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.11 I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. 12 But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
13 Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go! Let it be done just as you believed it would.” And his servant was healed at that moment. Matthew 8:5-13 NIV Read full chapter
The centurian came to Jesus:
In humility (“I do not deserve to have you come under my roof)”,
Understanding Jesus’ authority (v.9),
And with “great faith.”
May the Lord teach us to approach Him this way when we come to Him with our needs. May we ponder who He is before we begin our prayer.
Note: In Luke’s account, the centurion sends intermediaries. Both Matthew and Luke are correct. In the 1st century, it was understood that when a representative was sent to speak for his master, it was as if the master was speaking himself.
“Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. Where is the house you will build for me? Where will my resting place be? Has not my hand made all these things, and so they came into being?” declares the Lord.
“These are the ones I look on with favor: those who are humble and contrite in spirit, and who tremble at my word.” Isaiah 66:1-2 NIV
Commentary: “The opening words of the last chapter of Isaiah were written to the unrepentant people of Israel. They need not think that, in that condition, they can please God by building a temple for Him. After all, He is the universal Creator and Owner, enthroned in heaven, with the earth as His footstool. The dwelling place He desires is the heart of a person who is humble and contrite, and who trembles at His word.” Believer’s Bible Commentary
“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” Philippians 2:3-4 ESV
My Thoughts: I’m reminded of the day, many years ago, when the Holy Spirit brought this verse to my mind in a specific situation. It isn’t always easy, but it’s God’s way and how we should live.
In His Love, Cindy
Would you like to learn more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?
“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.” Psalm 122:6
“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. Philippians 2:3 Read full chapter
I remember one time many years ago. I had a room reserved for every Tuesday for the Women’s Bible Study. Then one day, the church secretary called me and said, “You won’t be able to use the room tonight.”
I said, “Why not?!”
She said, “Someone else needs it.” No explanation. Just “Someone else needs it.”
I won’t lie. I didn’t like it. My first thought was, So what? But before I could respond, the Holy Spirit brought the above verse to my mind.
I knew God was teaching me humility. It isn’t an easy lesson to learn, but one way or another, we need to learn it. If you’re like me, it will take some time!
In His Love, Cindy
Would you like to learn more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?
“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.” Psalm 122:6
All Scripture is from the NIV unless stated otherwise.
Jesus said, “The greatest among you will be your servant. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” Matthew 23:11-12
A Prison Story
A prisoner talked about the huge impact made on a rough group of fellow prisoners and himself by none other than a nondescript janitor who had worked for years at the prison. This little woman spoke to those hardened men as she held her broom and her words were used by God to pierce their hard hearts with the Gospel.
He said, “Because that janitor, a woman without a title, without a stage – she delivered a sermon that still gets me choked up. She didn’t come to save us. She came to serve. And in doing so, she became the loudest gospel I’d ever heard.”
“That little prison janitor touched toughened hearts through her acts of service. Her stage was a prison meeting room, holding her broom and mop, her dirty bucket of water sitting beside her.” Patty
God loves using the weak things of this world to confound the mighty.
Read Patty’s excellent post, Burping and Serving HERE.
In His Love, Cindy
Before you go, please see my page Who Is Jesus? Hundreds of people have viewed this page! Have you?
“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.”
Psalm 122:6
All Scripture is from the NIV unless stated otherwise.
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