Living in the Spirit
November 5, 2017
Scripture Reading: Matthew 23:1-12
But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all students. And call no one your father on earth, for you have one Father—the one in heaven. Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Messiah. The greatest among you will be your servant. All who exalt themselves will be humbled, and all who humble themselves will be exalted. –Matthew 23:8-12
The Lord calls us to walk humbly with God*. Merriam-Webster** defines humble as having a low opinion of one’s own importance or merits: modest or meek in spirit, manner, or appearance: not proud or haughty.
What does it mean to walk with God in humility? My Aunt Nancy was a master crafter. She could knit and crochet better than anyone I knew. It was rare to visit with her when her hands were not flying through the motions making a sweater or afghan. She shared that her young son was watching her one day and said he wanted to learn how to knit. She sat him on her lap and went through the first easy steps of knitting until he could do it by himself. He sat down next to her and began knitting one tedious stitch at a time when he finally stopped in frustration and said, “No Mama, I want to knit clicky-clack like you.” She hugged him close and told him he would be able to knit fast one day if he practiced very hard and over time learned all the stitches. God is our master teacher. Walking in humility with God means intentionally freeing ourselves of distractions and learning the master’s craft.
Modest and meek do not mean we become doormats. They mean we get our priorities straight in alignment with God’s and we do not let ourselves get in the way of fulfilling our potential.
Prayer:
I am weak, but Thou art strong;
Jesus, keep me from all wrong;
I’ll be satisfied as long
As I walk, let me walk close to Thee.
Refrain:
Just a closer walk with Thee,
Grant it, Jesus, is my plea,
Daily walking close to Thee,
Let it be, dear Lord, let it be.
Through this world of toil and snares,
If I falter, Lord, who cares?
Who with me my burden shares?
None but Thee, dear Lord, none but Thee.
When my feeble life is o’er,
Time for me will be no more;
Guide me gently, safely o’er
To Thy kingdom shore, to Thy shore.***
*Micah 6:8
**http://unabridged.merriam-webster.com/unabridged/humble
*** http://library.timelesstruths.org/music/Just_a_Closer_Walk_with_Thee/