by Wendy Elizabeth Middleton
“Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men – robbers, evildoers, adulterers – or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God have mercy on me, a sinner.’ I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before, God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” Luke 18:10-14
Humility is not humiliation. Neither is it poverty of spirit. Like a child, Jesus said. (Matthew 18:4) So the question is how is a child humble?
1) A child loves his parents and knows that his parents love him. If he stumbles he cries out to his father and reaches both arms in the air, to be picked up and comforted.
A child of God loves the Father. If he stumbles he cries out to his Father and reaches both hands out to the Word of God for comfort.
2) A child knows that he does not know. That’s why “WHY” is the number one question on every child’s lips.
A child of God knows that he does not know. And he reaches into the word for clarity. He also understands that while he may never be understand why people do the things they do he can trust that God does everything He does because He loves us, and if we trust Him, He will see us through the storms of life.
3) A child trusts his parents to protect him. He hold hands when walking, reaches up to be held when life gets scary and constantly peeks out at life from behind his parents legs.
A child of God trusts the Father to lead him along straight paths. He doesn’t have to see the whole road because he knows that God knows where He is taking him. He will hold the Father’s hand, reach up to be held when life gets scary and is constantly catching glimpses of life through the Father’s eyes.
Humble yourselves before the Lord and he will lift you up. James 4:10
4) A Child wants his parent’s approval. “Look at me daddy!” for every new accomplishment.
A Child of God seeks the Father’s approval. Even if the whole world thinks he’s crazy, if the Father approves, then he will bask in the warmth of even the most minor accomplishments.
5) A Child is enthusiastic about the world around him. Butterflies and marching ants fascinate him. He splashes through every puddle, and picks up every rock. And he wants to share that fascination.
A Child of God is enthusiastic about the world around him. He marvels at the wonderworks of God. He brings each new discovery in praise to the Father.
6) And a Child will make mistakes. He will make messes. And he will be sorry. When he drops his plate of spaghetti on the floor his mouth puckers up, his eyes fill with tears and “I sorry,” is the first thing out of his mouth. And when he does something he has been told not to do “Don’t be mad,” he pleads. And he may get angry when punished, but eventually he will understand the rules and when he does, a grudging “I’m sorry” becomes real.
A Child of God will make mistakes. He will make messes. And he will be sorry. When he drops the ball or misses the mark, his eyes fill with tears and “I’m sorry” is the first thing out of his mouth. And when he ignores the rules laid out for him, he begs for mercy and even though he may get angry at the Father for correction, which is rarely pleasant, he will eventually understand the rules and when he does his grudging “I’m sorry” becomes a contrite request for forgiveness.
This is the Child of God that Jesus pointed out to his disciples. This genuine understanding of sin, and the humble, contrite request for forgiveness was what justified the tax collector that day.
For this is what the high and lofty One says – he who lives forever, whose name is holy: “I live in a high and holy place, but also with him who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite. Isaiah 57:15
And one final thing, a child anticipates the coming of Christmas day. And that anticipation is almost as exciting as Christmas morning itself. He can’t sit still, he counts the days, and he picks up the presents under the tree and shakes it trying to figure out what wonder thing might be inside.
A Child of God anticipates the coming of Christ. And that anticipation is almost as exciting as the day we will finally meet Him face to face. We can’t sit still, we can’t be silent, we shake out the gifts that we have already been given and we work so that the harvest will be huge.
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
Simple - Ain't - Easy
But it is worth the effort
Wendy
“Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men – robbers, evildoers, adulterers – or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God have mercy on me, a sinner.’ I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before, God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” Luke 18:10-14
Humility is not humiliation. Neither is it poverty of spirit. Like a child, Jesus said. (Matthew 18:4) So the question is how is a child humble?
1) A child loves his parents and knows that his parents love him. If he stumbles he cries out to his father and reaches both arms in the air, to be picked up and comforted.
A child of God loves the Father. If he stumbles he cries out to his Father and reaches both hands out to the Word of God for comfort.
2) A child knows that he does not know. That’s why “WHY” is the number one question on every child’s lips.
A child of God knows that he does not know. And he reaches into the word for clarity. He also understands that while he may never be understand why people do the things they do he can trust that God does everything He does because He loves us, and if we trust Him, He will see us through the storms of life.
3) A child trusts his parents to protect him. He hold hands when walking, reaches up to be held when life gets scary and constantly peeks out at life from behind his parents legs.
A child of God trusts the Father to lead him along straight paths. He doesn’t have to see the whole road because he knows that God knows where He is taking him. He will hold the Father’s hand, reach up to be held when life gets scary and is constantly catching glimpses of life through the Father’s eyes.
Humble yourselves before the Lord and he will lift you up. James 4:10
4) A Child wants his parent’s approval. “Look at me daddy!” for every new accomplishment.
A Child of God seeks the Father’s approval. Even if the whole world thinks he’s crazy, if the Father approves, then he will bask in the warmth of even the most minor accomplishments.
5) A Child is enthusiastic about the world around him. Butterflies and marching ants fascinate him. He splashes through every puddle, and picks up every rock. And he wants to share that fascination.
A Child of God is enthusiastic about the world around him. He marvels at the wonderworks of God. He brings each new discovery in praise to the Father.
6) And a Child will make mistakes. He will make messes. And he will be sorry. When he drops his plate of spaghetti on the floor his mouth puckers up, his eyes fill with tears and “I sorry,” is the first thing out of his mouth. And when he does something he has been told not to do “Don’t be mad,” he pleads. And he may get angry when punished, but eventually he will understand the rules and when he does, a grudging “I’m sorry” becomes real.
A Child of God will make mistakes. He will make messes. And he will be sorry. When he drops the ball or misses the mark, his eyes fill with tears and “I’m sorry” is the first thing out of his mouth. And when he ignores the rules laid out for him, he begs for mercy and even though he may get angry at the Father for correction, which is rarely pleasant, he will eventually understand the rules and when he does his grudging “I’m sorry” becomes a contrite request for forgiveness.
This is the Child of God that Jesus pointed out to his disciples. This genuine understanding of sin, and the humble, contrite request for forgiveness was what justified the tax collector that day.
For this is what the high and lofty One says – he who lives forever, whose name is holy: “I live in a high and holy place, but also with him who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite. Isaiah 57:15
And one final thing, a child anticipates the coming of Christmas day. And that anticipation is almost as exciting as Christmas morning itself. He can’t sit still, he counts the days, and he picks up the presents under the tree and shakes it trying to figure out what wonder thing might be inside.
A Child of God anticipates the coming of Christ. And that anticipation is almost as exciting as the day we will finally meet Him face to face. We can’t sit still, we can’t be silent, we shake out the gifts that we have already been given and we work so that the harvest will be huge.
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
Simple - Ain't - Easy
But it is worth the effort
Wendy
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