Friends of Faith:
For every
one who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be
exalted.” Lk 1: 11
God has a unique way of showing us right from wrong; of
humbling us when we feel “good;” of guiding us on HIS path of righteousness; of
asking us to learn His wisdom; of guiding us to understand others and of
putting us in places which remind us to be more Christlike.
“My child,
conduct your affairs with humility, and you will be loved more than a giver of
gifts. Humble yourself the more, the greater you are, and you will find favor
with God. What is too sublime for you, seek not, into things beyond your
strength search not.” Sir 3: 17-18, 20
It isn’t easy to humble myself and let God determine if I
have done right. I can’t just say I am saved and then make choices that are
against God’s law; and being “good” doesn’t save me if I know that Christ wants
me to profess to others His life (by living in His footsteps). So I must learn
to be faithful and obedient, if that is what I profess to be. I must continue
to pray (listen) to God, serve like Christ, discern through the Holy Spirit and
ask His Church for guidance.
Someone
asked him, “Lord, will only a few people be saved?” He answered them, “Strive
to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter
but will not be strong enough.” …. “For behold, some are last who will be
first, and some are first who will be last.” Lk 13:
22-30
Like many people I want to be assured that I am saved. I want
to know I am right. I have a tendency to judge myself as “deserving” salvation rather
than learning the patience, humility and courage that comes from knowing that I
must allow God alone to judge me and that I may not always get what I want. I
may even have to suffer here on earth to receive the rewards in heaven for DOing
the work of BEing a Christian.
“For they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our
love, yes they’ll know we are Christians by our love.”
God asks us not to
love ourselves, but to make ourselves humble by loving Him and loving others.
Jesus could have been taken the crown of the righteous King of the Jews.
Instead he bore a crown of thorns and died on the cross, showing us how to
suffer, showing us how to give up everything we want and have by dying to our
own selfish desires for the sake of others. And Jesus showed us how to love by
allowing God to have the ultimate control that He modeled to us by doing the
works of a Christian.
Jesus gave up everything because love doesn’t come from a
feeling, love comes from a service, that of serving others, of serving those
who have less. Love is shown when the first become last, when those who have
give to those who don’t; when those who are first give to those who are last;
and when those who have wisdom find compassion – seeking to understand the
foolish and downtrodden.
Love is shown in families when we say “I’m sorry for hurting
you;” “I will take care of you even when I have something else planned;” “for
better, for worse; for richer for poorer; in sickness and in health;” and when
we forgive “seven times seventy” the spouse or the child who continues to (by
our standards) to make a mess (of their rooms, or their lives). THIS is true love.
This is God’s love. This is how God teaches us right from wrong, humbles us and
shows us the straight and narrow path.
Heavenly Father, Mold and fashion me into someone who trusts
you with humble innocence and a childlike faith. May my faith be so strong that
it obeys with courage when I am asked to put my own desires last and others
needs first. Help me to find peace in being powerless and joy in giving others
the hope of seeing beyond this life into the next. Amen.
Be humble. Be last. Serve others. God will not forsake, for
eternal, not earthly, happiness is His promise.
Blessings,
Charlotte
