“Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’
“But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.””
One of my deepest desires is that my son (Jeremiah) would grow to be the man of God that he was destined to be… I want his cup to overflow with the love of Jesus, I want him to live a righteous life & more than anything I want his testimony to be one where he can attest to the amazing things that God has done in our city.
I was quickly struck by the realization that if I want Jeremiah to be a godly man that must start with ME… If I’m serious about training my child in the ways of the Lord, I must be the greatest example he has. My cup must overflow first that I would direct him to Jesus. I need to show him what a godly life looks like, a life that seeks after Christ and only him.
Looking back to the Scripture we first read, there is no substitute for humbling yourself before God. The humble heart pleases God. The humble cry invites him to demonstrate his power.
Being humbled is something we think of as a passive activity—that is, somebody or something humbles us.
We are humbled by unemployment, by a failed relationship, by a dream shattered. But Jesus speaks of a humbling that is active—we are the humblers. This is not something we wait for to occur naturally. “Humble yourself.” It doesn’t sound right, does it? Almost a little masochistic. We’re used to being advised to assert ourselves, not to humble ourselves.
This is the masterwork of humility—what Christ did. He made himself nothing. He humbled himself. This was someone who was in very nature—in very essence—God but who didn’t cling to that status but rather made himself nothing.
How do we humble ourselves? Here are some ways that help me get to the end of me:
- To humble myself, I voluntarily confess sin.
- To humble myself, I give sacrificially and anonymously.
- To humble myself, I treat others better than myself.
- To humble myself, I ask for help.
Humble yourself before God that your cup will overflow into the lives of those around you!.
I’m sure if we take a minute to reflect we can all find that we’ve been in the Pharisees shoes before.
While reading this were you quick to judge the Pharisee ? Were you able to relate to the Pharisee?
Fret not, go before God and seek forgiveness. Humility is a daily transformation that needs godly intervention. Let His word marinate and speak right into you.
With Love,
Abby A
