humilty

humility

But you, do not be called ‘Rabbi’; for One is your Teacher, the Christ, and you are all brethren. Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. And do not be called teachers; for One is your Teacher, the Christ. But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted. — Matthew 23:8-12 NKJV

Men, Jesus has just showcased to the multitude that the Pharisees are all about façade. He goes further now to tell the people not to be called or address anyone on earth as Rabbi, Father, or Teacher. Jesus explains we have One Teacher, the Christ who is now in Heaven, and One Father, who is in Heaven.

Ask me again why I am not a Judaist or Catholic. Elementary interpretation should be sufficient. Jesus adds a familiar line, “he who is greatest among you shall be your servant”. As often as He spoke these words, we should begin to shift our understanding of the order of “great” in Kingdom.

First, no one has served more than Jesus. He told the disciples that anyone who had left family, home, fortunes, etc. for His namesake would be given more in Kingdom. Jesus left Heaven, the Holy Father, His glory, and all the comforts and privilege thereof. He humbled Himself to be born in flesh, live among us, accepted mockery, abuse, torture, humiliation, shame, death, the grave, hell, and then rose to bear witness of the resurrection, ascended and now is seated at the right hand of God the Father. This is our model for “great” in Kingdom.

Plush seats of privilege don’t carry us to greatness. Eloquent speeches, private jets, large extravagant homes and expensive vehicles do not equate to great. Titles, certifications, and worldly success don’t add a measure to great in Kingdom. Humility, submitted to the name of Christ Jesus, serving His people, His will, His name, leads to great. Jesus, and His life on earth are our model to great. Jesus follows this saying “whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Move forward men, humbling ourselves so it isn’t done for us, thereafter, the Lord God will lift us up at the appropriate time in eternity.

Vance Durrance

The Gift of the Thorn

⁷So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. ⁸Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. ⁹But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. ¹⁰For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. — 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 ESV

Paul remembers a very special time where he was shown an indescribable event. So that he would not become arrogant in the matter, the Lord allowed what Paul called a “thorn in his flesh”. Three times he asked for its removal and each time he was denied, with the reply, “My grace is enough for you, my power is made perfect in weakness”. Paul now boasts of his weakness, bearing the insults, troubles, and difficulties for the sake of Christ. Where Paul, myself, and you sir, are weak, He is strong.

The thorn story is familiar. We know about the thorn, but we don’t give thought to why. As young men we exercise to become strong. We fill our minds with information so that we can navigate life. Essentially, we are building our self-sufficiency. Here, the Lord makes it clear, -I AM- your strength. We strengthen and train and learn our way into a place where we feel comfortable “serving God” as if God needs our talents and qualities to accomplish His work. The truth is, our strength and intellect more often become stumbling blocks. We justify all our “growth” hoping it makes us more usable, in reality, Father would give us what we need in the hour we need it, if we humbled ourselves, trusted Him, and could submit to His Lordship enough to obey when He says…. fill in the blank yourself. Strength and wisdom are good, but obedience is closer to the Father’s heart.

Move forward men, humbling ourselves so that the Lord may lift us up. Prepare yourself to move beyond what you can do. It was not in Moses power to lift a sea, it wasn’t in David’s power to defeat the giant, it wasn’t Israel’s power that leveled Jericho. How much do you want to be a part of? Are you willing to be small so that He can do something big? Humble yourself, submit to His Lordship, and obey when He speaks.

Vance Durrance