The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe…
"The Servant Heart"
In the Old Testament, God humbled Himself to behold.
"Who is like unto the LORD our God, who dwelleth on high, who humbleth Himself to behold the things that are in heaven, and in the earth" (Psalm 113:5-6).
In the New Testament, God humbled Himself to become.
"Let this mind be in you, which was also in 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, and being found in fashion as a man, He humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross" (Philippians 2:5-8).
No truth more humbles our hearts than the realization of God humbling Himself, whether to behold or to become. Glorious and majestic, high and holy beyond all measure, our Lord nevertheless bears a heart of humility in His winsome character. We see this in the Lord Jesus, who lived a life of humility, and even more, died a death of humility. Moreover, He declared His life and doings to be an expression of the Father: "the Father that dwelleth in Me, He doeth the works" (John 14:10). The Savior also spoke of the Holy Spirit's self deference. "He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak… He shall glorify Me… He shall testify of Me" (John 16:14; 15:26). Thus, in all three Persons of the godhead, we see a sublime trait that must overwhelm our hearts with a wonder that leads to the humbling of ourselves before the Humble, and before people as the earthly expression of our Heavenly devotion. "Let this mind be in you…"
Consider if this were not the case. What if self-centered pride characterized the nature of God rather than humility? Certainly, I would not be writing and you would not be reading. We either would not exist because such a Creator would have instantly destroyed Adam and Eve when they sinned, or we would live in constant fear of a God all too ready to administer retribution, rather than being "ready to forgive and plenteous in mercy" (Psalm 86:5). No possibility of salvation would exist for any human heart, and even if seemingly granted, would come with no assurance that a proud Lord would not capriciously change His mind and rescind His mercy. Peace would be an unknown concept, as would any notion whatsoever of love.
The Lord who knelt to wash His disciples feet, and then hung to cleanse their hearts bears witness of a quality in God that brightly shines both directly and implicitly throughout the pages of Scripture. It is easy to miss this, or like Peter, to be so bewildered by the reality that he initially could not bear the thought of his Master kneeling before him. "Thou shalt never wash my feet!" (John 13:8). Without ignoring or minimizing the glory, the majesty, the holiness, and even the fear of God, we must be sure to incorporate the wonder of His triune humility into our understanding of who He is. No truth will more lead us to our knees before Him, or more cause us to press our faces unto the floor in awed devotion than the realization of the servant heart that beats in our glorious Master. Nor will any truth more change us into His spiritual and moral likeness as the wonder of humility leads to worship and the enabling to "walk, even as He walked" (I John 2:6).
"So after He had washed their feet, and had taken His garments, and was set down again, He said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you? 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 13:12-15)
Weekly Memory Verse
For we walk by faith, not by sight."
(II Corinthians 5:7)
6594
No comments:
Post a Comment