Daily Devotional Week of 3-18-2002

Monday 3-18-02

HUMILITY AND GOD'S SOVEREIGNTY

Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just. And those who walk in pride he is able to humble. - Daniel 4:37

Talk about a trial that bore the fruit of humility! The story of Nebuchadnezzar is unsurpassed in Bible history. This wicked king and persecutor of the Jews, while one day walking on the roof of his royal palace and scanning his kingdom with his eyes, wrongly conceded that it was by his power and for his glory that he built Babylon. The words were barely out of his mouth when the only great and mighty God took it all away from him including his sanity. After seven years of living like a wild animal with hair that had grown like the feathers of an eagle and nails like the claws of a bird, Nebuchadnezzar lifted his eyes to heaven and acknowledged that the Most High God is sovereign over all kingdoms and He gives them to whomever He pleases. As soon as Nebuchadnezzar humbled himself, God restored not only his sanity but his kingdom as well. He now gave praise and honor and glory to the King of heaven who he acknowledged is right and just in all His ways. Who of us if we endured a trial like that of King Nebuchadnezzar would be able to say what he said? Instead of grumbling and a hardened heart, this trial brought forth the fruit of humility and worship in his life. Ask God to give you a humble heart, that though trials may come your way, you would be able to see the sovereignty and glory of God in greater measure.

For further study: Daniel 4:28-37

Tuesday 3-19-02

HUMILITY IS LOWLINESS OF MIND

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. - Philippians 2:3

Paul says, "In humility consider others better than yourselves." The New King James Version translates the passage "in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself." A hallmark of humility is how one treats other people and where they place themselves in relationship to other people. Those who are lowly in mind are never looking for recognition or special treatment. No, those who are lowly in mind are eager to treat others special, they never lament in their own minds that they should receive special recognition. The truly humble person not only treats others as more important, it is his delight, and it is his way of life. A thought never crosses his own mind that reads like this, "I feel left out" or "no one appreciates me" or "no one ever recognizes or thanks me." Ask the Lord for the freedom to walk in greater humility. Sacrifice to the Lord today those things that are keeping you from living a life of humility.

For further study: Romans 12:1-2

Wednesday 3-20-02

THE MOST HUMBLE MAN

(Now Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth.) - Numbers 12:3

Moses is the only person in the Bible about whom this is said. Moses was more humble that anyone on the face of the earth. What were the ways that Moses demonstrated humility? Moses was a great intercessor for his people. When the children of Israel sinned, worshipping the golden calf, complaining about the manna, grumbling against Moses' authority, Moses went before the Lord to plead for their very lives to be spared. Even when Moses' own sister Miriam grumbled against him and the Lord struck her with leprosy, Moses prayed for her that she would be healed. Yes, there were times when Moses got angry with God's people, there were even times when he grew frustrated with God and grumbled against the LORD. Moses was not perfect, but overall his life was marked by great humility. He thought of his people before himself and his foremost desire was to do what he could to make right the relationship between the Israelites and God. Is your greatest desire for your friends and family their right relationship with God through Christ? Pray today for those you love that they would love God above all else.

For further study: Romans 9:1-5

Thursday 3-21-02

HUMILITY AND TRIALS

Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands. - Deuteronomy 8:2

It is the Lord's will to humble His people. In Deuteronomy we read that the 40 year journey of the Israelites in the desert was to humble them, to see what was truly in their hearts. You see, when a trial collides with the heart the contents spill over for all to see. God wanted to know whether they would keep His commands. It is easy to say we love God and have faith in Him when we don't have to demonstrate it in any tangible way. But when a trial comes and stretches our capacity for faith and obedience then the true contents of our hearts spill over for God, ourselves and the world to see. Have you been through a trial lately? What spilled out of your heart? What is God showing you about the condition of your own heart and the depth of your humility? Take these things to God in prayer.

For further study: Hebrews 12:4-10

Friday 3-22-02

HUMILITY AND BLESSING

If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. - 2 Chronicles 7:14

If we humble ourselves, that is if we stop going our own way and follow the way of the Lord, then we can expect blessing. But as long as we do things our way, we cannot expect healing, we cannot expect blessing. Why? Because when we go our own way, we are snubbing our noses at God. Worse, we are exalting ourselves above God! Really, what we are saying with our lives is, "I know better than you God, I am wiser than you God, I think my plan will work better than yours God." In actuality the person who does that is kicking against the goads, it is a loosing battle. How long will you kick against the goads? How long will you try to live your life as if you had control over your own destiny? Humble yourself today and ask God to forgive you for resisting His grace. Turn away from the pride of your life and rush, headlong into His ever-loving arms.

For further study: Acts 9:1-19

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