Contributor: Annie
Scriptures: Matthew 11:28-30 Matthew 26:53 1 Samuel 17:45 Esther 4:16 to 5:5 1 Corinthians 27-31
It is astounding, isn’t it, that our Sovereign Lord, the Word Who became flesh, should describe Himself as “meek and lowly in heart”? The One Who could have called down 12 legions of angels as He hung on Calvary’s tree, refused to do so. Not because He could not, but because He would not.
When the young shepherd boy, David, turned up at the battle field with his brother’s lunch, he was astounded that no-one was prepared to stand before the Philistine giant. It was not pride in his own ability that led that young man to put aside Saul’s armour and stride purposefully into the valley with his sling and 5 smooth stones. His words to Goliath were “You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.” David stood in the power of God that day, not caring what the arrogant giant thought of him, but caring deeply that Goliath had defied the God of the armies of Israel. He laid aside his own worth, all pride in his own ability and God honoured his actions.
Queen Esther was raised by God to rescue her people, but not by rallying them to rebel or take up arms in defiance of King Ahasuerus, but by fasting and praying for her. What she did could have resulted in her being deposed, but this wasn’t about her, it was all about God being mocked by Haman’s actions. She bore the burdens of her people, she humbly went to the king, and trusted her God to carry her through.
As we read both the Old and New Testaments, we can find so many examples of God’s people putting aside their own safety, their own agenda, their own desires and trusting solely in our God. In his letter to the Corinthian church, Paul speaks of God choosing the foolish things of the world to put the wise to shame. Paul, who was heading for great fame and authority, had seen with such clarity that what God seeks is our humility, our willingness to lay aside our strength in both words and deeds. On the Damascus road, Paul encountered the Risen Christ and he was totally undone, as he later said “it is no longer I who lives, but Christ who lives in me”. This is how he can truthfully say that he no longer glories, or boasts, in himself but in the LORD.
When we, too, encounter Christ and surrender to Him, this can become our battle cry. We can know with absolute certainty that God will raise us up in His Kingdom, when we die to our pride in our own ability and strength. God’s desire is for us to trust Him, so that His Life in us will bring victory in whatever endeavour He leads us to. That we will daily pick up our cross, bearing one another’s burdens, taking the lowest place so that, in His time, He will lift us up.
Humility is not about subservience or making a great show of being humble. It is all about knowing that the power of God dwells within us, we are His temple, merely the vessel He chooses to use, when He chooses to do so. And this humility is both the most powerful and liberating weapon we can use against the enemy of our God, simply because we are no longer the focus of the battle. We stand, trusting in God alone, knowing our humility leaves room for Him to exercise the victory that is already His.
Prayer:
Wonderful Father God, increase our trust in You as we daily lay down our pride and walk in humility and a deepening intimacy with You. Thank You that we may glory in You and You alone.
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