“The King Who Serves, the Servant Who Reigns”

"The King Who Serves, the Servant Who Reigns"   

     Humility does not come naturally to humanity.  Left to ourselves, pride directs the current of our lives.  

    "All that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world" (I John 2:16).  

    "The pride of life."  The Apostle John refers to the deception that characterizes the heart and flesh of all born of Adam's fallen race.  In one form or another, all human beings in their natural state believe themselves to be something in and of themselves.  The delusion may manifest itself either pleasantly or unpleasantly in outward expression.  Through heritage, upbringing, and social influence, some act in a humble manner, while others obviously display the strain of egotistic delusion.  Either way, "the pride of life" constitutes the atmosphere of heart that prevents genuine humility, as defined by God, from serving as the natural spiritual and moral condition of human beings.

   Conversely, humility fills and fulfills the Divine heart of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  The greatest Servant who ever lived, declared that His character and way proceeded from His Father.  "The Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He seeth the Father do: for what things soever He doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise" (John 5:19).  The Holy Spirit also seeks to direct attention and glory not to Himself, but rather to the Lord Jesus (John 15:26; 16:14).  Thus, we discover true humility in the triune King of all things.  "Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.  If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you" (John 13:13-15).

   Humility does not come naturally to humanity.  Humility comes supernaturally.  God must work in our hearts to convince us of both His greatness and His humility.  We must fear Him as the beginning of both knowledge and wisdom (Psalm 111:10; Proverbs 1:7).  This leads us to our knees and faces as the beginning of His humbling work in us.  He then guides us even lower as the Gospel of the Lord Jesus reveals the sublime wonder that to redeem the proud from their delusion, the King revealed His heart of meekness and servitude.  Indeed, the One who humbled Himself to "behold" the things of earth according to the Old Testament, humbled Himself to become a part of the earth in the New (Psalm 113:6).  "Christ Jesus: who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men" (Philippians 2:5-7).  Such revelation of our Lord's sublime goodness breaks the strain of pride in those who will see and respond to both the greatness and lowliness of the living God.  Yes, humility comes supernaturally, as wrought in our heart by the King who serves, and the Servant who reigns.

      The fool fails to fear God.  The blind fails to be fascinated by the wonder of God's heart of humility.  We must know our Lord in both aspects of His glorious character,  nature, and way if we are to be delivered from our natural state of pride to a supernaturally wrought heart of humility.  Fear leads to faith, which leads to the God-wrought determination to "let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus".  This is His way in our lives, His supernatural way that delivers us from the pride of life unto the primacy of His life, His life of glory and humility.

"And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof. And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain."

(Revelation 5:5-6)

Weekly Memory Verse

    And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.

(Luke 2:10-11)