James 4:10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.
Growing up, each summer my parents would send me and my siblings just down the street to attend Vacation Bible School at a local church for one week! I loved the sing-a-long songs, sweet snacks and sticky crafts that we cherished for years; but most of all, I enjoyed sitting through the Bible lessons. Looking back now, I realize that I didn’t always have the best heart posture during those classes though. I knew all the answers (or at least thought I did!) which set me apart from the other kids. My parents had always stressed the importance of reading and understanding God’s word, so as a young child I took that and ran with it. Granted, there is nothing wrong with having a strong Biblical foundation. We are actually commanded to hide God’s Word in our heart! In turn, it will resurface in our minds when we need a guide and prompts away from sin and towards the Light. However, I can see in this day and age that knowledge often prompts feelings of power. This had me tiptoeing on the line between confidence and pridefulness.
Such arrogance is not a foreign concept to most. Rather, it’s a global toxin that rears its ugly head in our homes, the workplace, the golf course, Hollywood media and even relationships. This could look like the times when we aren’t willing to learn from others or heed wise advise; when we don’t leave room in the conversation for a topic other than ourselves; and even in our ability to ask for help when we need it.
As Christians, we ought to care about God’s view on the matter. Turning to His Word, in James 4:10 and Luke 14:11 it is clearly stated that He will honor, or literally lift up, those who are humble. We also read in 1 Peter 5:6-7 (GNT), “Humble yourselves, then, under God’s mighty hand, so that He will lift you up in His own good time. Leave all your worries with Him, because He cares for you.”
This is good news my friend! There’s no need to stress about pushing our own agendas, building a fortune and making a name for ourselves. God has our best interest in mind and a better route for us than we could ever plan on our own. He cares so much for us that He sent His only Son, Jesus, to be born on the very earth that we walk on. This is why we celebrate Christmas! Jesus was a traveling preacher, performed miraculous healings and in all of it, lived a sinless life of obedience to God’s will. He died a brutal death on a tree in our place, but that’s not the end! He came back to life three days later and is again enthroned alongside His Father in Heaven. In doing so, our evil thoughts and wrongdoings can all be wiped away! We can spend eternity in Heaven, a paradise of perfect peace with our Father. We need only to see our need for saving, to turn away from the lifestyle of this world that we once took part in, and to accept this gift of undeserved grace. Jesus is ready to be the Lord of our lives. Are we humble enough to hand over the reigns?
This devotional is written by Guest Writer, Hannah Davis.
Truth Conquers All 