Pastor Stephen Dedman

Tag: humility

A Life Of Humility

Faith

‘For who makes you differ from another? And what do you have that you did not receive? Now if you did indeed receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?’
I Corinthians 4:7

The Apostle Paul addressed the Corinthians prideful hearts by asking three questions. (1) Who makes you differ from someone else? (2) What do you have that you did not receive? (3) Why do you boast as if you had not received it?

These questions should make us think about our own life. Do I give God credit for all that He has done for me and given to me? Do I possess a humble spirit? Am I grateful in all things? Am I content?

The christians at the church in Corinth thought of themselves as being successful due to their wisdom and courage. The problem was that their definition of success was all wrong. They considered their success as part of their own doings.

The only true success a person can have is obtained through the works of the Cross at Calvary. If we boast in anything else we possess a prideful heart. We are who we are because of who we are in Christ. Without Jesus we are nothing!

If we are going to possess a spirit of humility it must be based upon our relationship with Jesus. Let’s measure our success through how much we give and not how much we make. Our selfless, sacrificial service toward others proves that our hearts are in the right place.

The remedy for pride is spending more time in worship to God and realizing what Jesus has done for us.

Pray

Lord, give me strength to overcome pride. Help me to recognize if I have a prideful spirit. Keep me humble through the power of the Cross.

Be Humble

Encouragement, Trust

“For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭14:11

It is natural for us to desire places or positions of honor and importance that make us look good. But it’s not biblical.

Jesus taught a very valuable lesson as He spoke to a multitude of people seeking to hear Him. He spoke a parable about attending a wedding reception and intentionally not taking the seat of honor just in case someone else arrived who was more important.

He said it would shame a person to place oneself in a place of honor when someone else deserves it more. Instead He said to sit at the lowest place and let the one who invited you place you at a higher place and then you will be honored by those you sit with.

Jesus spoke this parable to teach us about humility. When we seek to take honor to ourselves, we will always be humbled or humiliated. It is important for us to start off being humble and then let someone else exalt us.

Jesus was the perfect example of this. He deserved the highest place of honor but chose the lowest place and then God granted Him the highest place. Philippians 2:5-9 says, “though He was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name,”

We live in a world that places so much value on being successful. While it’s good to strive to be the best at what you do, it’s equally important to consider how you treat others in the process. Lift others before yourself. Your actions reflect the condition of your heart.

Pray

Lord, help me to be humble. Let me notice what others need and want before myself. Thank you for being lowly and setting the perfect example for me to follow.

The Wilderness Class

Faith, Trust

‘So He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord . ‘
Deuteronomy 8:3

Have you ever been at a place where you couldn’t turn to anyone but God? You had nothing else and no one else to count on? This is how God humbles us.

God humbled Israel as He brought them to a place where all they could do was depend on Him. The wilderness was a classroom of learning to be humble. God was teaching Israel a lesson on dependency.

Israel had no other option but to rely on the Lord. They were allowed to hunger so that they could experience the goodness of God. For some, this doesn’t make sense but it’s how God works.

The lesson in the wilderness was to teach the Israelites to trust God in His word instead of trusting in material things. We too must learn that the word of God is our food and substance where we find life. Obedience to the Word of God is a place of joy and blessing.

It’s okay to be in the wilderness. The wilderness is a place where we can truly count on God. It’s a place where God allows suffering for our own good. The place where we experience the grace and goodness of God. A place of blessings indeed.

Pray

Lord, I want to trust in You and You only. Guide me through the wilderness if I need to go through it. Humble me now before I pride myself into destruction.