Staying Humble

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. -Colossians 3:12

Some days I learn a lesson by making a mistake. 

Last week on Wednesday, I posted a painting of a beautiful goldfinch, 

which I mistakenly posted as my mom's painting.

My daughter Maggie reminded me she had painted that beautiful bird. 

So this week, I humble myself as I post the lovely house finch my mom painted.

I find as I get older, I still have much to learn, 

mistakes to make, and humbleness to experience.

That's okay, because I want God to keep teaching me in my humility.

 

She Washed His Feet With Her Tears

Luke 7:44-47
Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair.  You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.”

Washing another person’s feet is a humbling experience.

At church camp, the counselors and teachers taught us to experience the times that Jesus lived. In Jesus day, folks wore sandals or walked barefoot on the dusty roads. They didn’t wear the latest model of tennis shoes or work boots. As a greeting and welcome to visitors, the host provided water and washed the feet of their guests.

Our camp teacher paired us up, and we removed each other’s shoes and rinsed each other’s feet. I’ll admit as a teenager I thought it a bit weird, but the act increased my understanding of the ancient times.

When a Pharisee invited Jesus to dinner, he failed to provide water for Jesus’ feet. Jesus never complained or questioned, but when the woman who stood in the shadows approached him, he welcomed her. She bowed before him and cleansed his feet with her tears. The tears may have been carried in a jar where she collected them, or she may have cried over him. Either way, she humbled herself before Jesus and as an act of worship poured perfume over his feet.

The most beautiful part of the story is Jesus’ offer of forgiveness. Because the woman humbled herself and believed in Jesus as Savior, he forgave her sins on the spot. She walked away free of the burden of her past into a life of gratitude and love.

She loved much, because she was forgiven of much.

Jesus arms are open to invite you in. He loves us so much and wants nothing more than for us to believe and live for him.

Be the person who loves much.

Humble and Selfless

Philippians 2:1-4
Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.  Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

Proverbs 31 is often the go to chapter of the Bible for Mother's Day. Granted there are many wonderful words there in reference to a wife and mother. But as I was reading through some Bible verses for this week's devotion, I read Philippians 2. I know Paul was speaking to the church in Philippi, but I can't imagine better words to describe a mom. Throughout the scripture, I've read of many mom's who put their children's needs above their own, practiced tenderness and compassion, loved God, and bowed before him with a humble spirit.

Hannah turned her son over to God's service after she'd spent years praying to have a baby. Moses' mom hid him to keep him safe. Ham, Shem, and Japheth's mother climbed into an ark full of stinky animals to ride out the storm with her boys. I've always appreciated that Timothy's grandmother and mother raised him to love the Lord. Of course I can't leave out Mary, Jesus' mother. She watched her son die for the rest of us. She knew God needed him to do that.

Whether we're moms, daughters, aunts, Grammies, or friends God shows us many great examples of what a Christian woman looks like. I mention women because of Mother's Day, but the scripture applies to guys too. We all need to be selfless and encourage each other.

And by the way, when your mom said she didn't really want that last piece of dessert she gave you, she probably really did. She was just being nice.

Happy Mother's Day!