Transformation
They labor in vain who build it;
Unless the LORD guards the city,
The watchman stays awake in vain.
~Psalm 127:1
Showing posts with label Humility. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Humility. Show all posts
They labor in vain who build it;
Unless the LORD guards the city,
The watchman stays awake in vain.
~Psalm 127:1
The Goodness of the Lord
Do not let it be known that the woman came to the threshing floor. ~Ruth 3:14
The threshing floor is where the heads of grain would be broken from the stalks. This was done with either oxen trampling the stalks or by a threshing sledge. You can imagine that this can be a rather painful experience if we put ourselves into the shoes of the wheat. Yet, I believe God puts us through this process to refine us, mold us and transform us into His image for His Glory (Isaiah 28:23-29). Ruth certainly experienced this after her devastating losses (death of her husband, brother in law, father in law and leaving her homeland). However, I believe the LORD is saying in the above scripture (in symbolic terms) that He is going to exalt her so high, that no one would ever even know of her threshing floor experience, unless they were told of the very humbling circumstances that God allowed into Ruth’s life to prepare her for His Glory. This of course came to past as she is the great grandmother of King David and eventually of Jesus Himself. Yes, it is true that God does indeed exalt the humble (James 4:6) She started on the threshing floor, and God put her on a high place!
You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra,
The young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot.
“Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him;
I will set him on high, because he has known My name." -Psalm 91:13-14
The young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot.
“Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him;
I will set him on high, because he has known My name." -Psalm 91:13-14
My hope and prayer is that this will encourage you today. I know this Word has encouraged me. I don't know about you--but I'm ready for the harvest! It's been a long time coming ;)
"I do not receive honor from men." ~John 5:41
Lately, the Lord keeps showing me this passage. I've been working so hard lately, and it's tempting to feel like a machine when you are not being rewarded for your efforts (at least in the immediate time). God has reminded me that the great I AM lives inside of me. At first when I saw this passage, I was tempted to think perhaps I was not honoring God in an area of my life. Don't you love how Satan accuses us when we are in intimate fellowship with the Lord? God corrected me and told me that the I AM that is inside of me does not receive honor for the work I've been doing by humans. Then the light bulb went off! As Christians, because God "I AM" lives inside of us, when someone does not honor us, they are dishonoring God. In other words, when someone causes us pain, they cause God pain. They are marring the image of God and the Holy Spirit that is inside of us. It reminds me of this verse:
"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'" ~Matthew 25:40
Now I understand what this passage means! To take it one step further, I was recently able to help a married couple who are good friends of mine by letting them stay at my place which was very close to the hospital. The wife was in labor expecting her first and they lived 25 minutes away. We didn't get much sleep that night, but during the part that I did, the Lord woke me up and said, "You are my blessing." It dawned one me later that He was saying, "I am in labor and you helped me by letting me stay in your home by the hospital. You are my blessing." I hope this helps you to understand why it is so important to honor God by honoring others. When we dishonor other people we are really dishonoring the Lord!
On another note... I want to show this series together:
He calls me Beloved
He calls me Friend
May the Lord bless and keep you!
The King's Humility
Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve,and to give His life as a ransom for many.
~Matthew 20:28
I want to reflect on how humble the Lord is. He humbles Himself by coming from Heaven to Earth to reach His children. Then, He lives a life of service while He is here. The Creator bows down to the creation and washes the feet of the disciples which was the job of slaves at the time (John 13). Next, Jesus dies on the cross so all of humanity can have the opportunity to get right with the Father and spend eternity in Heaven if they accept Him as Savior. They say, cursed is anyone who hangs on a tree. The Lord of All dies in shame to reconcile Himself to His creation. He certainly didn't have too. But He loved us that much.
What kind of love is this?
The Lord is so humble. He goes to great, painful lengths to be in relationship with us. I remember a time in my life when I was serving someone I was working for. I was so tired and weary from all my service, and I felt it wasn't appreciated. I told the Lord that I wished my service was appreciated after all the hard work and hours I had put into it. While I prayed I saw a vision of a young man with milk and cookies on a tray. I asked the Lord who that was and He said, "It is Me. I have come to serve you. Let me serve you." He is so sweet! The God of the entire universe cares about serving me? The Lord is so humble! He serves us constantly and yet we fail to have eyes to see. I challenge you to look around you and see how the Lord is humbling Himself to serve you and be in relationship with you. Don't take Him for granted. Get on your knees and thank Him today!
We love you Lord!
What kind of love is this?
The Lord is so humble. He goes to great, painful lengths to be in relationship with us. I remember a time in my life when I was serving someone I was working for. I was so tired and weary from all my service, and I felt it wasn't appreciated. I told the Lord that I wished my service was appreciated after all the hard work and hours I had put into it. While I prayed I saw a vision of a young man with milk and cookies on a tray. I asked the Lord who that was and He said, "It is Me. I have come to serve you. Let me serve you." He is so sweet! The God of the entire universe cares about serving me? The Lord is so humble! He serves us constantly and yet we fail to have eyes to see. I challenge you to look around you and see how the Lord is humbling Himself to serve you and be in relationship with you. Don't take Him for granted. Get on your knees and thank Him today!
We love you Lord!
