CLOTHED IN HUMILITY
1 Peter 5:2-3, 5-6 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof , not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;
[3] Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being examples to the flock.
[5] Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.
[6] Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
Isaiah 66:1-2 Thus saith the Lord, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest?
[2] For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the Lord: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.
Every day we make a choice in how we adorn ourselves in our walk and character in our service and in ministry for the Lord. The character and humility in which we adorn ourselves today will determine our success in reaching others and the impact we make tomorrow. One thing is for in ministry and our service for the Lord, our life is an open book. There are times we may face ridicule, blame, unrealistic expectations, and our lives are under a microscope by the world and others who are watching. With ministry comes a great price, but even more important comes a great reward! Hallelujah! Serving the Lord and fulfilling HIS purpose takes great resolve, determination, and a heart completely submitted to the work of the Lord…HIS providential plan, HIS way!
There are two phrases that caught my attention today in the two passages for our text: The phrase…”and be clothed with humility” and the phrase…”but to this man will I look”. The Lord is teaching us in HIS Word that the Christian, the preacher, the servant that HE is looking for to use for HIS glory is that servant that is HUMBLE! That servant that has a poor (HUMBLE) contrite spirit that trembles at HIS WORD! That humble servant that when God speaks and gives HIS Word and HIS direction, HIS way, HIS plan, there is great fear and trembling to do anything else but what HE has said to do. We see in Isaiah, that Heaven is HIS throne, and the earth is HIS footstool! What a mighty and powerful God we serve! The Lord sits HIGH, but HE looks LOW to the humble child of God to do the work HE has for us to do! When there is a work to be done…to whom where the Lord LOOK? The Lord is searching for this Christian (clothed in humility), the servant that is completely surrendered in heart and KNOWS when HE speaks in that still small voice. The Lord speaks in a still small voice and yet HIS Word, HIS direction is so clear that it is as if it THUNDERED down from Heaven and we fear and tremble knowing there is no other course to take but HIS way. Bless HIS Name! When God speaks in such a way, there is NO doubting and though we fear God, HE gives us great peace that as long as we obey HIM, there is NOTHING to fear!
Every born again Christian has an assigned place on this earth, an ordained field to work and till for the Kingdom of God. Our Creator gives us the privilege and allows us to work HIS precious fields that HE has appointed. The Holy Ghost is always at work, transforming us, growing us, preparing us, and directing us to the field where God can get the greatest glory! Andrew Murray, a preacher in the early 1800’s said, “Pride must die in you or nothing of Heaven can live in you!” If you desire to be used or lead to the field that God has ordained for you…the work (the foundation) MUST be built upon Jesus, HIS Word HE has spoken to you, and an obedient heart and spirit CLOTHED IN HUMILITY.
Bro. Lawrence Longworth
Isaiah 61:1 “the opening of the prison to them that are bound;”
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