Are You Small Enough?

"What is man that You take thought of him,

And the son of man that You care for him?"

Psalm 8:4

Years ago, there was a famous explorer named William Beebe, a good friend of President Theodore Roosevelt. Often when he visited the President at Sagamore Hill, the two men would go outdoors at night to see who could first locate the Andromeda galaxy. Then, as they gazed at the tiny smudge of distant starlight, one of them would recite, “That is the spiral galaxy of Andromeda. It s as large as our Milky Way. It is one of a hundred million galax- ies. It is 750,000 light years away. It consists of 100 billion suns, each larger than our sun.” Then Roosevelt would grin and say, “Now I think we are small enough! Let’s go to bed.” With this ritual, Beebe and Roosevelt restored their sense of wonder. David had that sense of wonder, too. As he looked at creation he marveled that such a magnificent God could love and care for frail, weak humans. So often we think we have all the answers and can do everything needed without God's help. But the truth is we are completely dependent upon Him. Without His grace we would have nothing. Go out today and renew your wonder of God. Then lift up praises to Him for all that He is. 

Conspicuous Glory

"But we do see Him who was made for a little while lower than the angels, namely, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone."

Hebrews 2:9

I fear too often we take for granted the grace of God. The very thought that Christ could love us so much that He would willingly lay down His Heavenly crown and take up the humiliating cross should move us to sorrowful repentance and glorious praise. Repent to the Lord, for He who knew no sin became sin for us that we might become His righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:21). Praise the Lord, for the obedience that caused His suffering raised Him to glory. "The crown of thorns and the purple robe, the mocking knee of the Roman soldier and the taunting scoff of the Jewish priest, though they called forth the grace, did not tarnish the glory of our suffering Lord. His holy obedience to his Father's will in drinking the bitter cup, his meek dignity amid the worst of insults, and his calm resignation to all the weight of suffering which God or man laid upon him, all shone forth the more conspicuously under every attempt to dishonor him." -- J. C. Philpot

Always Obedient

And when eight days had passed, before His circumcision, His name was then called Jesus, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb. And when the days for their purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “EVERY firstborn MALE THAT OPENS THE WOMB SHALL BE CALLED HOLY TO THE LORD”), and to offer a sacrifice according to what was said in the Law of the Lord, “A PAIR OF TURTLEDOVES OR TWO YOUNG PIGEONS.”

Luke 2:21-24

Our Lord Jesus was not born into sin. He did not need circumcision nor redemption according to the Law. But in everything Mary and Joseph were obedient; from the naming of Jesus according to the angel's instructions, to the following of the Mosaic Law. Jesus was born into a Law abiding home (Galatians 4:4). He would be brought up to obey God's word, and in all things He would remain blameless. "Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross." (Philippians 2:5-8)

Humbly Perplexed

"And coming in, he said to her, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” But she was very perplexed at this statement, and kept pondering what kind of salutation this was.

Luke 1:26-29

God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth with an important message for Mary, the young virgin betrothed to Joseph. Gabriel called Mary "favored one." Favored one in the original Greek means to honor with blessings. And Mary was perplexed at hearing that. She didn't see why she should receive God's favor. She didn't see herself as one to be honored by God. She was humble. God honored Mary out of His grace, and He was with her, as He is with all who trust in Him. When God bestows a blessing upon us, the proper response is to be grateful. To realize in humility that His favor is undeserved. And to ponder this amazing grace that He bestows. 

Don't Change the Subject

The woman answered and said, “I have no husband.” Jesus *said to her, “You have correctly said, ‘I have no husband’; for you have had five husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your husband; this you have said truly.” The woman *said to Him, “Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet. Our fathers worshiped in this mountain, and you people say that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.”
John 4:17-20


When Jesus confronted the Samaritan woman at the well with her immoral lifestyle, she used an age-old defense mechanism. She tried to change the subject. Isn't that what still happens today when people are confronted with their sin? They try to change the subject to something else. We just don't like it when someone points out the truth of our pitiful condition. Jesus doesn't bring up our sinfulness to condemn us. He brings it up to change us. He knows how destructive sin is and how it keeps us separated from Him. By the end of her conversation with Jesus, the woman at the well had come to recognize Him as the Son of God and she called others in her village to meet Him. “Come, see a man who told me all the things that I have done; this is not the Christ, is it?" (v. 29) When we humble ourselves to the truth of who we really are, we see the truth of who God really is. 

The Wisdom of Humility

"But he said to Him, “Lord, with You I am ready to go both to prison and to death!” And He said, “I say to you, Peter, the rooster will not crow today until you have denied three times that you know Me.”

Luke 22:33-34

Peter's pride was his undoing. Jesus revealed to him that he would soon undergo a great trial, temptation from Satan himself (Luke 22:31-32). But the disciple hardly seems to have heard the Lord. Instead, he boasts in his own strength: "I am ready". Peter could have avoided so much shame and heartache by admitting he could do nothing on His own and asking Christ to sustain him. Our good intentions are not enough to make us stand firm.  We may desire with all our hearts to remain faithful, but it is God who empowers us to do so. Jesus said, "You can do nothing without me." The very moment  we humble ourselves and admit our need for Him, the Lord strengthens us. In humility there is great wisdom. 

He Must Increase

"He must increase, but I must decrease."

John 3:30

John the Baptist had prepared the way for Jesus the Messiah. Before Jesus came, John had quite a following. But after the Lord appeared on the scene and John baptized Him, the people turned their attention away from John to Jesus. When confronted about the circumstances that diminished his ministry -- a ministry he had given his whole life for and would soon die for -- John responded that his "joy has been made full" (v. 29). He understood that his service was for the glorification of the Lord and not for Himself. John was willing -- joyfully willing -- to decrease in stature for the exaltation of Christ. Jesus "must increase, but I must decrease." What a wonderful example John is for us. 

Jonah's Prayer

"But You have brought up my life from the pit, O LORD my God.
While I was fainting away,
I remembered the LORD,
And my prayer came to You,
Into Your holy temple." 

Jonah 2:6-7

In the  belly of the whale, Jonah cried out to the Lord. He was there because of his disobedience; because of his sin against God. Yet out of His love and grace, God delivered Jonah "from the pit." He didn't hold Jonah's sin against him, but regarded his sad state and gave him another chance. Jonah's humility moved God's heart. "Though we bring our afflictions upon ourselves by our sins, yet, if we pray in humility and godly sincerity, we shall be welcome to the throne of grace, as Jonah was." -- Matthew Henry 

Like a Child

"Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven."

Matthew 18:4

In the ancient Jewish culture, children were often dismissed, regarded as property and relegated to a "seen and not heard" position. But Jesus loved them and called them to His side (Mark 10:13-15). He pointed to them as an example of humility, with teachable spirits that believed without hesitation. When the disciples wanted to know who would be the greatest in Christ's kingdom, the Lord rebuked them and told them to humble themselves as a child. Humility is big on Jesus' list. He modeled it for us and spoke of it often. Looking at the children in our lives should remind us of our Savior's words and inspire us to resist pride.

A Humble Heart - God's Tool

When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”

   “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”

   Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”

John 21:15

What a beautiful picture of the Lord's grace we see in the restoration of Peter. Even though he denied knowing the Lord three times -- just as Jesus said he would -- Christ didn't hold that against  Peter. Is it significant that the Lord asked Peter three times "do you love me?" I think it is. Jesus could see inside Peter's heart. He knew the sorrow that resided there over His friend's denial of Him. What Peter had done was a serious matter and for the disciple's sake  the Lord would not take it lightly. Peter had to face head on the sin he had committed in denying Jesus. His humble heart was imperative to Christ being able to use him to care for His followers and spread the gospel. A humble heart is always a required tool for God's work.

Loving Arms

"Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you."

1 Peter 5:6-7

It takes humility to give our worries to God. Our prideful, independent nature wants to hold tightly to at least some of our troubles, saying "You know what God? I can take care of this one myself." But Peter tells us to cast (throw) all our anxiety on God. Why? Because the Lord cares about us and He wants to be the one to lift us up, when the time is right. When we refuse to go to Him for help and comfort, it's the same as dismissing Him. Sometimes I wonder if we truly understand the heart of our Father. It must be very painful for Him to hold out His arms to us, the children He loves so much, only to watch us run the other way. 

Wash Their Feet

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"If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet.  For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you."

John 13:14-15

The night He was betrayed Jesus washed the feet of each of His disciples, including Judas.  He knew His betrayal would come from Judas, yet he chose to serve even his enemy. This is an amazing picture of how Jesus wants us to treat each other.  Rarely will we so much as tolerate those who oppose us, much less stoop to humble ourselves before them.  Is there someone God wants you to serve? Listen to the beautiful song "Humble King" by Brenton Brown and meditate on the words.  Let the Lord speak to your heart.

What Delights God?

"For You do not delight in sacrifice, otherwise I would give it;

         You are not pleased with burnt offering. 

    The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;

         A broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise."

Psalm 51:16-17

It's not the work of our hands that delights God, but the work of our heart. It begins when we repent of our sins with broken and humble hearts that yearn to be in fellowship with Him. When we accept the sacrifice that Christ made on Calvary, understanding that it's nothing we do that puts us in right stead with the Father, but rather the work of Christ on the cross that is our claim for pardon. At last we are free from the bondage of sin, never to return to it as long as we remain in Christ, and we serve the Lord out of love and not out of guilt. This is what delights God. This is the truth that our Father wants us to grasp. This is the joy inexpressible that He wants us to experience. 

God's Quiet Whisper

So He said, "Go forth and stand on the mountain before the LORD " And behold, the LORD was passing by! And a great and strong wind was rending the mountains and breaking in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of a gentle blowing. When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave And behold, a voice came to him and said, "What are you doing here, Elijah?" 

1 Kings 19:11-13

The Lord has handed over a great victory to Elijah in his battle against Jezebel's false prophets. For a short time Elijah celebrates, but then he becomes fearful and depressed when he sees no spiritual conversion, and Jezebel threatens his life. He runs away, wishing to die. But the Lord has His eye on Elijah and sends angelic messengers to minister to him. Finally refreshed, Elijah travels forty days and nights until he reaches Horeb, the mountain of God. There the word of God comes to him and instructs him to stand on the mountain while He passes by. Elijah obeys and three cataclysmic events take place: a mighty wind that breaks the rocks in the mountain, followed by an earthquake, and a fire. But God isn't in any of those phenomena. Instead He speaks in a gentle breeze that comes afterward. Elijah recognizes this and humbles himself before the Lord. This is a good lesson for us. We may expect to hear from God in the spectacular moments of life and completely miss His quiet whisper in the humble ordinary.  

What Does God Want?

"He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God."

Micah 6:8

Micah reveals to us what the Lord requires of his children. It may sound easy, but if we are honest with ourselves, we know that to act justly towards others and extend mercy to them when they have wronged us is not natural. These are Godlike characteristics that we do not possess in our own strength. It requires the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. And how do we receive the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, unless we come before God in humility, confessing our sins and acknowledging our need for a Savior? Micah says, "walk humbly with your God." God must be personal to us. He must be your God. He must be my God. He is not a distant, uninterested deity, but a loving Father who wants us to have a right relationship with him. What an honor and privilege it is to "walk humbly" with Almighty God.

He Commands the Morning

"Have you ever in your life commanded the morning, And caused the dawn to know its place," Job 38:12

In his distress, Job presumes to explain God's ways to his friends. There is much discourse that results and finally God interrupts to question Job, exposing his ignorance and that of his compadres. Job is humbled, as he should be. There is none like the Almighty God. His power is limitless. Even the dawn is subject to His command.