“Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.” (James 4:10)
In the Old Testament God marked His priests by putting blood on their right ear lobe, their right thumb, and the big toe of their right foot. That meant they were called to honor God in their hearing, their skills, and their daily walk. You can’t just do your own thing; you’re called to walk according to God’s Word. When you don’t, God will call you to repentance. And if you don’t repent, He will discipline you. “Do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines the one he loves.” (Hebrews 12:5-6)
Note two important phrases:
- “Do not make light of the Lord’s discipline.” Your “Nobody’s-going-to-tell-me-what-to-do!” attitude will rob you of God’s best and prevent Him from using you effectively. “God opposes the proud, but shows favor to the humble.” (James 4:6)
- “Do not lose heart when he rebukes you.” Instead of seeing God’s correction as rejection, see it as proof that you’re His child … that He has a plan for your life … and that it begins when you humble yourself and do what He tells you.
God’s patience is amazing — but He won’t wait forever. He said of Jezebel, “I gave her time to repent … and she did not … I will cast her into a sickbed.” (Revelation 2:21-22)
On the other hand, when Ahab, Jezebel’s wicked husband, humbled himself, God healed and restored him. Humbling yourself before God will turn things around in your life when nothing else will work. So, the word for today is: make things right with God!
Prayer
Heavenly Father, forgive me for the attitude of “I can do what I want”. Help me get in line with what is best for me — Your plan! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Stay encouraged!
Pastor Mike
