It seems almost contradictory to speak of the power of humility. And yet, there are few virtues that wield spiritual power like the grace of humility. When Jesus taught his disciples in parables in Luke’s gospel, He spoke of the Pharisee and the Publican. The Pharisee stood in the temple and lifted his voice in thanksgiving that he was not like the other raunchy and disgusting sinners that would later offer their prayers. But, at a distance and out of the spotlight, a tax collector, well aware of his grievous sin, stood and prayed quite simply, “God be merciful to me a sinner.” The verdict as noted by Jesus was that this man went home justified but not the boastful Pharisee.
The example of Christ’s humility is never clearer than in Paul’s Philippian discourse when he reminds the readers that Jesus “humbled Himself,” took upon Himself the “form of a servant” and made Himself of “no reputation.” Yet the epilogue to His great humility was that God exalted Him and gave Him a name above every name. The humble sinner was justified and the humble Savior was exalted. There was power in humility.
James says that “God resists the proud but give grace to the humble.” (James 4:6) When other qualities fail, humility brings access to the grace of God. How unfortunate that in the church, it is title, position, rank, gifting, and authority that we seek, and yet we wonder where our spiritual power has gone. It is precisely because that power does not come through exercising our rights or demanding our way. It comes through humble service.
John Newton, the converted slave trader and author of Amazing Grace said it so eloquently.
If two angels were to receive at the same moment a commission from God, one to go down and rule earth’s grandest empire, the other to go and sweep the streets of its meanest village, it would be a matter of entire indifference to each which service fell to his lot, the post of ruler or the post of scavenger; for the joy of the angels lies only in obedience to God’s will, and with equal joy they would lift a Lazarus in his rags to Abraham’s bosom, or be a chariot of fire to carry an Elijah home.
May we like the angels find our greatest joy in humble obedience to the Master’s will and find in that act the true meaning of spiritual power.
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I find your comment about a lack of spiritual power interesting. I was reading in Acts this week, wondering why we do not see the signs and wonders that accompanied the preaching of the Gospel in those days. Is there something lacking in the charachter of the modern Church?
ReplyDeleteI think what is lacking is humility and complete dependence upon Christ. We have learned HOW to DO church in our own strength and at times act as if we don't need Him. That independence is precisely why we see a lack of spiritual power. Because while we can sing, preach, pray, and perform without spiritual power, we cannot do the miraculous without Him. We have by our attitudes said we don't need Him, and I beleive in many cases God has obliged our arrogance by withholding.
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