Tag: Humility

Devotionals

Be Humble, Pray, and Seek the Lord  

Loring Schultz

Read: 2 Chronicles 7:12-16 NLT – Then one night the LORD appeared to – Bible Gateway

“Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14 NIV

Photo by Nuno Silva on Unsplash

A few days ago Donald Trump, the president of the United States, read a portion of Scripture as part of a marathon reading of the Bible in an America 250-themed event. The United States will celebrate its 250th anniversary of independence on July 4th of this year. The passage he read from in 2 Chronicles was appropriate as the Lord promises to bless those who call on Him and He will restore their land. America sure needs it. The news media did not see it that way but criticized the reading as misrepresenting the Bible and not applicable to our time. Granted it was a different time and I will not make this a political piece (that is for our Saturday’s Christian Perspective each week) but this passage does apply. It applies as an example for the nation and for every person in the world today. The Bible is God’s living and breathing Word and it applies to everyone every day.

Christians can claim the words ‘Then if my people who are called by my name’ as applying to them, which I am one. When one accepts Christ as savior they have been drawn by the Holy Spirit unto salvation. We are called ‘Christians’ after Jesus Christ’s name and the Holy Spirit resides in every Chrisitan upon salvation. The Lord says when we humble ourselves, pray, and seek His face that He will hear us.

The Lord also demands that we turn from our wicked ways. Turning to God in prayer seeking Him with a humble attitude while still sinning against Him brings into question, how serious are we? Do we care about restoration or do we want to keep a couple of sins in our back pocket. The Lord God wants one-hundred percent commitment in our humility, prayer, seeking Him, and turning away from our sin. He then promises to forgive us and restore us. Yes, this passage applies today for everyone. Praise God that it does!

Devotionals

The Consequences of Greed: Lot’s Story in Genesis

Loring Schultz

“Lot took a long look at the fertile plains of the Jordan Valley in the direction of Zoar. The whole area was well watered everywhere…. and Lot moved his tents to a place near Sodom and settled among the cities of the plain.” Genesis 13:10, 12 NLT

Photo by Bob Osias on Unsplash

Careful and thorough examination is important when deciding upon major issues in life.  Looking for a new car would entail what is affordable, safe, meets your needs and gets good gas mileage, along with how many charging stations are available if going all electric. These factors would be considered as proper having the right motives. Basing your decision on proper motives most likely will provide a good experience for you now and in the future. Wrong motives will produce just the opposite. Having a selfish attitude could lead you to make a purchase over your financial capability to make the monthly payment. You may find out there isn’t enough room as you thought and it is a gas guzzler, or you are stranded somewhere between Chicago and Minneapolis with no charging station in sight. You may have looked long and hard among your options for your new vehicle, but you had set your sights with the wrong motives.

The first book of the Bible records the story of a man who made a major decision with the wrong motives. In Genesis chapter 13 we have a story of Abram and his nephew Lot who was travelling with him. Both had abundant and increasing livestock which made it impossible for them to live together. Abram allowed Lot to choose where he preferred to go with Abram going in the opposite direction. The Bible says, “Lot took a long look at the fertile plains of the Jordan Valley.” (Gen.13:10 nlt) Lot saw fertile land, and out of selfishness and greed Lot chose it for himself. It made have been in today’s terms a wise calculated business move, but Lot could not see past his selfishness. He failed to calculate what it might cost him in the future.

Scripture informs us of Lot’s long look and his move to the cities near Sodom, the well-known Sodom and Gomorrah. “But the people of this area were extremely wicked and constantly sinned against the LORD.” (Gen.13:13 nlt) Life and business may have been good for Lot, but it turned for the worst when he eventually begins to live in Sodom. (Gen.14 & Gen.19) Lot’s greed and selfishness brought him in needless conflict with the sins of the people around him affecting himself and his family. A long look is advisable and necessary but made with the wrong motives becomes a disaster.

Devotionals

The Humility of Christ

Loring Schultz

“And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.” Philippians 2:8 NKJV

FreeBibleimges.org

The apostle Paul in writing to the church in Philippi admonishing them to be like minded, united in spirit, and dedicated to one purpose, used the humility of Christ as an example. Jesus, God the Son, humbled Himself while on the earth from His incarnation through to His death on the cross. He identified as wholly man while He was also wholly God. Jesus was obedient to the Father throughout His entire earthly life up to and including His crucifixion. The humility of Christ is witnessed at the beginning of His ministry on earth at His baptism by John the Baptist.

Most of us have trouble today understanding why Jesus was baptized. John, himself, questioned why Jesus came to him to be baptized. After all, John’s mission was to prepare the sinners of the world for the coming Messiah by a baptism of repentance. Jesus was no sinner and had no need of repentance. He was the Lamb of God who will take away the sins of the world. Yet, Jesus came to him and despite John’s rejection said, “Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” (Mt. 3:15 nkjv) John obeyed and baptized Jesus, God the Son.

Jesus, in His baptism, identified with the sinners He came to save. He was the fulfillment of all righteousness as He alone is able to meet all of God’s righteous requirements. Truly the Messiah who came to save would need to be sinless and perfect in every way. Jesus would continue to live a life without sin right through the humiliation of the unjust trials, the beatings, and the public humiliation of the cross.

The humility of Christ is seen throughout the New Testament in various forms. His baptism marked the beginning of His ministry to save us which began by humbling Himself to identify with sinners. Indeed, Jesus’ baptism shows His humility.