Arrogance and Humility

Elihu provides excellent reminders that God is greater than we can imagine (v 26): he never needs counsellors or teachers (v 23) and he is the supreme ruler over the natural world (vs 27-33). God is greater than our finite minds can comprehend. He – the only being like this in the universe – never needs any instruction from anyone. God’s wisdom is unfathomable.

Standing Beside Donkeys

In my role as a political staffer, I once helped with a private symphony concert and reception, held in honour of the visiting Prince Charles and his wife.

I checked invitations and ID, and after the music began, slipped into a seat at the back, behind a host of news media holding cameras and microphones aloft.

“Being Noticed is Part of Who I Am”

Reflections from an older male community leader listening to the Sermon on the Mount.

. . . It had been a long walk to this hillside to hear this radical young rabbi. I didn’t want to go, but everyone told me I had to hear him. There were more people than the population of our whole village sitting on the side of the hill. We waited. Then we saw him. He was unassuming, but commanding at the same time.

Humility

There is a place and a need for humility in our lives. We are all liable to get ourselves into difficult places from time to time, places that require us to bow our heads and perhaps even bend our knees and swallow a large dose of humility. It’s not easy to do because pride is predominant in our human nature. No one wants to admit failure or weakness or defeat. No one wants to admit to needing help. But humility can go a long way to restoring us to our rightful place before God.

Blind Guides

How can someone who works so hard at his scholarship, studying the Word of God, become a blind guide? I don’t know about you, but that’s a terrifying thought for someone in leadership. Recall the stern admonition from James 3:1 that teachers will be judged more strictly. Jesus adds in Luke 11:52, “You teachers of the Law of Moses are really in for trouble! You carry the keys to the door of knowledge about God. But you never go in, and you keep others from going in.”

Read More humility, leadership, blindness, learner

Needy Kids

Fill in the blank: “I want to be more _______.” What was in your blank? Patient? Joyful? Self-disciplined? Caring? Chances are you didn’t write “needy.”In our culture, being needy is an unattractive quality. We value strength, independence, the ability to stand on our own two feet. “Needy” brings to mind clingy ex-girlfriends or people on the receiving end of Christmas baskets.

Cup of Suffering

When I am teaching my students I sometimes will ask them to predict what might happen next in a story. Young minds come up with some wonderfully imaginative scenarios. Predicting what might happen next keeps them attuned and attentive.

Humility

Humility – a virtue highly valued by God. Many Scripture passages refer to it and show us what it looks like. Here, thanks to the Pharisees and religious teachers of Jesus’ day, we learn what it does not look like.

Culturally, Jews in Christ’s day showed their devotion to God by wearing little boxes containing Scripture on their foreheads and arms.

Quite the Contrast

One thing about Jesus, nobody has ever ignored him. Even in our day, it seems, everybody has an opinion about him. Some think he’s a fine example, others that he is great prophet, others a great figure of history. Yet others only know his name, which they use to curse the people and events that bother them.

Then there’s another group, in which, I pray, you count yourself.

Road to Humility

Fear can put crazy thoughts in our heads. Panic and undue expectation can fill us with dread. Sometimes we can even get sick from anticipation.

When Jesus, his disciples and the other followers headed to Jerusalem, there was a feeling of foreboding in the air. Jesus sensed the anguish of the disciples and wanted to help them gather their thoughts so they could start to deal with what was about to take place.