Tag: humility
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When Pride Will Not Bow – Exodus 10:3-6
Exodus 10:3-6 And Moses and Aaron came in unto Pharaoh, and said unto him, Thus saith the Lord God of the Hebrews, How long wilt thou refuse to humble thyself before me? let my people go, that they may serve me. Else, if thou refuse to let my people go, behold, to morrow will I…
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Love Them and Let God Judge – Genesis 50:18-19 Genesis 50:18-19 And his brethren also went and fell down before his face; and they said, Behold, we be thy servants. And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God? Now the brothers come themselves. They fall down before Joseph’s…
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Out of the Dungeon, Free of Self – Genesis 41:9-16
Genesis 41:9-16 Then spake the chief butler unto Pharaoh, saying, I do remember my faults this day: Pharaoh was wroth with his servants, and put me in ward in the captain of the guard’s house, both me and the chief baker: And we dreamed a dream in one night, I and he; we dreamed each…
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More Righteous Than I – Genesis 38:26
Genesis 38:26 And Judah acknowledged them, and said, She hath been more righteous than I; because that I gave her not to Shelah my son. And he knew her again no more. At last, Judah says the right thing. “She hath been more righteous than I.” That is a remarkable confession. Not because Tamar was…
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Leaning Forward While Limping – Genesis 33:1-2
Genesis 33:1-2And Jacob lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, Esau came, and with him four hundred men. And he divided the children unto Leah, and unto Rachel, and unto the two handmaids. And he put the handmaids and their children foremost, and Leah and her children after, and Rachel and Joseph hindermost. Jacob…
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From Panic to Prayer – Genesis 32:9-10
Genesis 32:9-10And Jacob said, O God of my father Abraham, and God of my father Isaac, the LORD which saidst unto me, Return unto thy country, and to thy kindred, and I will deal well with thee: I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies, and of all the truth, which thou…
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Wanting Peace Before the Meeting – Genesis 32:3-5
Genesis 32:3-5And Jacob sent messengers before him to Esau his brother unto the land of Seir, the country of Edom. And he commanded them, saying, Thus shall ye speak unto my lord Esau; Thy servant Jacob saith thus, I have sojourned with Laban, and stayed there until now: And I have oxen, and asses, flocks,…
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Burning Hot, But Missing the Whole Story – Genesis 31:35-37
Genesis 31:35-37And she said to her father, Let it not displease my lord that I cannot rise up before thee; for the custom of women is upon me. And he searched, but found not the images. And Jacob was wroth, and chode with Laban…… and Jacob answered and said to Laban, What is my trespass?…
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Two Birds of a Feather – Genesis 29:12-15
Genesis 29:12-15 And Jacob told Rachel that he was her father’s brother, and that he was Rebekah’s son: and she ran and told her father. And it came to pass, when Laban heard the tidings of Jacob his sister’s son, that he ran to meet him, and embraced him, and kissed him, and brought him…
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Humility Is Not Silence – Genesis 21:25
Genesis 21:25And Abraham reproved Abimelech because of a well of water, which Abimelech’s servants had violently taken away. I like this because it shows balance. Abraham had just been humble. He did not argue or defend himself. But when it came to the well, he spoke up. He did not stay quiet just to keep…
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Only What Is Real Can Wait – Genesis 21:24
Genesis 21:24And Abraham said, I will swear. I love how simple that is. Abraham does not argue. He does not defend himself. He does not try to clean up the past or explain why Abimelech should trust him now. He just says, “I will swear.” There is a quiet humility in that response that says…
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Listen to Your Wife – Genesis 21:12
Genesis 21:12And God said unto Abraham, Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the lad, and because of thy bondwoman; in all that Sarah hath said unto thee, hearken unto her voice; for in Isaac shall thy seed be called. This is one of those verses that can make a man smile…
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No Ordinary Visitors – Genesis 18:3-5
Genesis 18:3-5 And said, My Lord, if now I have found favour in thy sight, pass not away, I pray thee, from thy servant: Let a little water, I pray you, be fetched, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree: And I will fetch a morsel of bread, and comfort ye your…
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The Dignity of Letting Go – Genesis 13:9
Genesis 13:9 Is not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left. There is such dignity in Abram here. He does not…
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When the Waters Are Gone – Genesis 9:18-21
Genesis 9:18-21 And the sons of Noah, that went forth of the ark, were Shem, and Ham, and Japheth: and Ham is the father of Canaan. These are the three sons of Noah: and of them was the whole earth overspread. And Noah began to be an husbandman, and he planted a vineyard: And he…
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Grace for the Lowly – Genesis 5:25-27
Genesis 5:25-27 And Methuselah lived an hundred eighty and seven years, and begat Lamech: And Methuselah lived after he begat Lamech seven hundred eighty and two years, and begat sons and daughters: And all the days of Methuselah were nine hundred sixty and nine years: and he died. Now we come to Lamech. His name…
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The Grace of Not Knowing – Revelation 10:4
Revelation 10:4 And when the seven thunders had uttered their voices, I was about to write: and I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered, and write them not. This is a fascinating moment. The seven thunders speak. John hears what they say. He is…
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Big Words, Small Souls – Jude 14-16
Jude 14-16 And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, to execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly…
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The Lord Rebuke Thee – 2 Peter 2:11
2 Peter 2:11 Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord. Peter now makes a striking comparison. False teachers speak boldly, casually, even arrogantly about powers in the unseen realm. But angels, who are greater in power and might than we are, do not speak…
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Be the Right Person – 1 Peter 5:5-6
1 Peter 5:5-6 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time. Peter brings everything…
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Go First – 1 Peter 5:3
1 Peter 5:3 Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. Peter says spiritual leadership is not lordship. That matters because people in any place of responsibility can start slipping into control mode without even realizing it. A pastor can do it. A parent can do it. A ministry leader…
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Freedom That Knows How to Bow – 1 Peter 2:13-20
1 Peter 2:13-20 Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. For so is the will of God, that…
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Boasting in the Wrong Thing – James 4:16
James 4:16 But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil. James does not soften this at all. When a man puts his confidence in his own plans, projections, or resources instead of in the Lord, God does not call it merely unwise. He calls it evil. That is strong language. But…
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A Vapor in His Hands – James 4:13–15
James 4:13–15 Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for…
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That Is Not Your Job – James 4:12
James 4:12 There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another? James brings us back to a truth that can straighten out a whole life in just a moment: there is one lawgiver. One. Not me. Not you. Not the loudest voice in the room. Not…
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Love Does Not Talk That Way – James 4:11
James 4:11 Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge. James brings this down where we live. After talking…
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Tune In – James 4:8–10
James 4:8–10 Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up. These verses can sound heavy at first, but James…
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More Grace – James 4:6
James 4:6 But he giveth more grace.Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. Those first four words are a pillow for the soul: But he giveth more grace. Not just grace once. Not just grace for the polished version of you. Not just grace for the days when you…
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Stop Chasing the Shiny People – James 2:1–4
James 2:1–4 My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment;And ye have respect to him that weareth the…
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The Philistine of Finances – James 1:9–11
James 1:9–11 Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted: But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away. For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth,…
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No Name Dropping – James 1:1
Some people cannot introduce themselves without polishing the brass a little. They find a way to mention who they know, where they have been, what they have done, or why you should be impressed. It is almost an art form. Just enough humility to sound spiritual, but still enough detail to make sure everybody catches…
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A Few Words and a Lot of Grace – Hebrews 13:22–25
Hebrews 13:22–25 And I beseech you, brethren, suffer the word of exhortation: for I have written a letter unto you in few words.Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty; with whom, if he come shortly, I will see you. Salute all them that have the rule over you, and all the saints.…
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Watch the Root – Hebrews 12:15
Hebrews 12:15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled. As the race continues, the writer now gives a warning. Watch carefully. Stay alert. Guard your heart. Because there is something that can quietly grow beneath the surface…
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He Walked Away From a Crown – Hebrews 11:24
Hebrews 11:24 By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. The writer slows down here and begins to show us the shape of Moses’ faith. And the first thing we see is not a miracle, not a plague, not a parted sea. We see a…
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Remembering What We Once Were — Titus 3:2–3
Titus 3:2–3 To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. Paul now turns to the way believers speak about other people. “Speak…
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Stewards, Not Stars — Titus 1:7–8
Titus 1:7–8 For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate; Paul continues describing the kind of man who should lead in the church,…
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Strong in Grace — 2 Timothy 2:1
2 Timothy 2:1 Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. Paul knows Timothy well. Timothy is not the boldest man in the room. He struggles with fear. His health is fragile. At times he seems overwhelmed by the weight of the ministry placed on his shoulders. If most…
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Tears That God Uses — 2 Timothy 1:4
2 Timothy 1:4 Greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears, that I may be filled with joy. Paul remembers the last time he saw Timothy. There were tears. The young man who had walked beside Paul on dusty roads, who had watched him preach and suffer and keep moving forward, now stood…
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Do Not Trust the Chairs — 1 Timothy 6:17
1 Timothy 6:17 Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches… but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy. Paul gives Timothy a message for those who have wealth. First, do not become proud. Second, do not trust in riches.…
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Small Men Before a Great King — 1 Timothy 6:14–16
1 Timothy 6:14–16 That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ:Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no…
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Enough Is Enough — 1 Timothy 6:7–8
1 Timothy 6:7, 8 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. Paul strips life down to the bare essentials. We came into the world with empty hands, and we will leave the same way. No one arrives…
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When Religion Becomes a Ladder — 1 Timothy 6:3–5
1 Timothy 6:3–5 If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,Perverse disputings of men of corrupt…
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Family in the Fellowship — 1 Timothy 5:1–2
1 Timothy 5:1–2 Rebuke not an elder, but intreat him as a father; and the younger men as brethren;The elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, with all purity. As Paul moves into chapter five, he begins talking about how the church treats itself. Ministry is not only what the church does for the…
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Not a Novice — 1 Timothy 3:6
1 Timothy 3:6 Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. Paul now adds something that feels almost protective. Do not put a brand new believer into leadership. Why? Because pride grows fast in fresh soil. The word novice means newly planted. A sapling. Something still…
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A Quiet Strength — 1 Timothy 2:11–12
1 Timothy 2:11–12 Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection.But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. These verses have stirred more debate than almost any others in Paul’s letters. At first reading, they can feel sharp. Restrictive. Out of step…
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First of All — Pray — 1 Timothy 2:1
1 Timothy 2:1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men. Paul shifts the focus from guarding doctrine to shaping atmosphere. “First of all…” Before strategy.Before structure.Before correcting the culture. Pray. That order matters. When a church begins to drift, our instinct is often…
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He Came for People Like Me — 1 Timothy 1:15
1 Timothy 1:15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. Paul does not say, I was chief. He says, I am. And he says it near the end of his life. That tells me something about sanctification.…
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Sincerely Wrong, Wonderfully Saved — 1 Timothy 1:12–14
1 Timothy 1:12–14 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith…
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The Law in Its Right Place — 1 Timothy 1:8
1 Timothy 1:8 But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully. Paul does not dismiss the law. He does not belittle it. He does not say it failed. He says it is good. But then he adds something that matters just as much. “If a man use it lawfully.”…
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Where It Is Supposed to Lead — 1 Timothy 1:5–7
1 Timothy 1:5 Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned. Paul has just warned Timothy about people drifting into speculation and side trails. Then he slows everything down and says, in effect, here is the point. Love. That is where…
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Not an Enemy — 2 Thessalonians 3:15
2 Thessalonians 3:15 Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother. Paul draws a line, then immediately softens the tone. Yes, there are times to step back. Yes, there are moments when distance is necessary. But even then, do not treat him like an enemy. He is still a brother.…
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Study to Be Quiet – 1 Thessalonians 4:9–11
1 Thessalonians 4:9–11 But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.And indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia: but we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more;And that ye study to…
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One Plea, Two Hearts – Philippians 4:2
Philippians 4:2 I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord. Paul does something fascinating here. He does not diagnose the problem.He does not host mediation.He does not publish the details. He pleads. Twice. “I beseech Euodias…and beseech Syntyche…” The repetition matters. In Scripture, when something is said…
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The Ongoing Exchange – Philippians 3:7–8
Philippians 3:7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Paul uses accounting language. Columns. Profit. Loss. Everything that once appeared in the “gain” column—heritage, discipline, zeal, reputation—he moved into the “loss” column. Not because those things were evil in themselves. Because compared to Christ, they were worthless. Imagine holding…
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The Power of the Empty Life – Philippians 2:7
Philippians 2:7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men. He emptied Himself. Not of His deity. Not of His identity. He emptied Himself of the independent use of divine privilege. That changes everything. If Jesus walked on water simply…
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Look Into, Not Down – Philippians 2:4–6
Philippians 2:4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. This is the doorway to humility. You cannot esteem someone better than yourself if you never look closely enough to see them. Most of us glance. We size people up in seconds. We file them into…
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Love Her to Death – Ephesians 5:25–30
Ephesians 5:25–30 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be…