Humility can get a bad rap. We don’t always understand it. We can get confused on what it means to be humble. Being humble does not mean beating ourselves up or degrading ourselves. That isn’t in line with what we are taught in scriptures. We are taught we are the beloved. We are taught we are loved and adored and the created. Sure, we mess up…a lot. But that doesn’t change the fact we are loved. We are still adored. So to belittle ourselves in an effort to be ‘humble’ isn’t the right path.
I like to think of humility as a way of respect. When I humble myself before God, I am recognizing his power. I am remembering he is the Creator. I am drawn to the fact he is my Savior and my Redeemer. It is not about me beating myself up. It is about seeing how amazing God really is and then considering this same amazing God decided to create me. That’s actually pretty uplifting. It is empowering to know we are created for something good. My humility does not mean I am worthless. My humility means I am giving place to the One who deserves to be honored – God.
In this particular section of the 4th chapter of James, there are many words which are used to describe this drawing near to God – humility being one of them. We are taught to submit ourselves to God, to draw near to him, and to cleanse ourselves so we may be pure. This is a drawing in, a welcome, a calling to come closer to God. It is a place where we are cleansed and find refuge. We cannot get here if we think so much of ourselves that God is not most important. We cannot truly rest here if we don’t believe God can truly care for us. We won’t allow ourselves to be cleansed unless we realize how much of a mess we are without him. But when we do – when we truly humble ourselves before God – there is peace. This is where we were meant to be all along.
Today, may we humble ourselves before God and allow him to clean us up and care for us.
Focus Scripture:
James 4:10
10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.
Photos included in Devotions are captured by David Cain – The Cain Gallery. Photos are available for sale by contacting The Cain Gallery
SEEING THE EXTRAORDINARY 