Kingdom Life: Humilty
Next we'll take a look at The Kingdom of God. Following elections which affect our earthly "kingdom," let's take a look at some of the qualities of God's kingdom: humility, justice, mercy, peace, compassion, and service, as well as take some time to give thanks.
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it will be hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astounded and said, “Then who can be saved?” But Jesus looked at them and said, “For mortals it is impossible, but for God all things are possible.” ~ Matthew 19:23-26
When he noticed how the guests chose the places of honor, he told them a parable. “When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, do not sit down at the place of honor, in case someone more distinguished than you has been invited by your host.~ Luke 14:7-8
“The world tells us to seek success, power and money; God tells us to seek humility, service and love.” ~ Pope Francis
“The road must be trod, but it will be very hard. And neither strength nor wisdom will carry us far upon it. This quest may be attempted by the weak with as much hope as the strong. Yet it is oft the course of deeds that move the wheels of the world: Small hands do them because they must, while the eyes of the great are elsewhere.” ~ The Fellowship of the Ring
Oh Lord, it's hard to be humble, when you're perfect in every way...~ Mac Davis
Would you say that the world lifts up humility as something to be honored?
Do the weak inherit the earth? Does the widow's mite serve as treasure to be desired? Do the lowly get looked upon with favor?
Most of the time it is instead the strong that survive, the powerful who win, the arrogant who get noticed.
In The Lord of the Ring trilogy, it is a small, humble Hobbit who serves perhaps the greatest role in the destruction of the One Ring. Samwise Gamgee serves his master Frodo and accompanies him on his quest to destroy the ring that has led to doom and despair. As Frodo stumbles often in the quest, and at times is near death, Sam holds him up, rescues him, and ultimately makes sure that Frodo is able to complete his task.
Yet he is willing to take a backseat to Frodo, who is the one called to be the ring-bearer.
Humility doesn't usually get us noticed. But without it, the world would certainly be a different place.
We have a God who lifts up lowly young women and makes them mothers of the divine. Who takes little shepherds and makes them kings.
Who takes stuttering nomads and makes them leaders and liberators of people.
Who says a child is the greatest.
Who praises a widow who gives her last cent.
Who says the first shall be last and the last shall be first.
It isn't the kingdom we are used to. It isn't the one we see in our day to day.
Yet it is one we are called to share in and help toward the building of.
One humble step at a time.
Prayer: Lord, may my soul magnify you. Scatter my pride and conceits, and help me to model the kingdom way of humility. Amen.
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it will be hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astounded and said, “Then who can be saved?” But Jesus looked at them and said, “For mortals it is impossible, but for God all things are possible.” ~ Matthew 19:23-26
When he noticed how the guests chose the places of honor, he told them a parable. “When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, do not sit down at the place of honor, in case someone more distinguished than you has been invited by your host.~ Luke 14:7-8
“The world tells us to seek success, power and money; God tells us to seek humility, service and love.” ~ Pope Francis
“The road must be trod, but it will be very hard. And neither strength nor wisdom will carry us far upon it. This quest may be attempted by the weak with as much hope as the strong. Yet it is oft the course of deeds that move the wheels of the world: Small hands do them because they must, while the eyes of the great are elsewhere.” ~ The Fellowship of the Ring
Oh Lord, it's hard to be humble, when you're perfect in every way...~ Mac Davis
Would you say that the world lifts up humility as something to be honored?
Do the weak inherit the earth? Does the widow's mite serve as treasure to be desired? Do the lowly get looked upon with favor?
Most of the time it is instead the strong that survive, the powerful who win, the arrogant who get noticed.
In The Lord of the Ring trilogy, it is a small, humble Hobbit who serves perhaps the greatest role in the destruction of the One Ring. Samwise Gamgee serves his master Frodo and accompanies him on his quest to destroy the ring that has led to doom and despair. As Frodo stumbles often in the quest, and at times is near death, Sam holds him up, rescues him, and ultimately makes sure that Frodo is able to complete his task.
Yet he is willing to take a backseat to Frodo, who is the one called to be the ring-bearer.
Humility doesn't usually get us noticed. But without it, the world would certainly be a different place.
We have a God who lifts up lowly young women and makes them mothers of the divine. Who takes little shepherds and makes them kings.
Who takes stuttering nomads and makes them leaders and liberators of people.
Who says a child is the greatest.
Who praises a widow who gives her last cent.
Who says the first shall be last and the last shall be first.
It isn't the kingdom we are used to. It isn't the one we see in our day to day.
Yet it is one we are called to share in and help toward the building of.
One humble step at a time.
Prayer: Lord, may my soul magnify you. Scatter my pride and conceits, and help me to model the kingdom way of humility. Amen.