Act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God (Mic. 6:8).
God has two dwellings; one in heaven, the other in a meek and thankful heart.

Dust

Posted by ForeverSailing on 28 July 2020 Devotional 2

by Rob Bell

Believing in God is important, but what about God believing in us? Believing that we can actually be the kind of people we were meant to be. People of love, compassion, peace, forgiveness, and hope. People who try to do the right thing all of the time. Who act on the endless opportunities around us every day for good, beauty, and truth. It’s easy for us to sometimes get down on ourselves. To feel “not good enough” or feel like we don’t have what it takes. But maybe if we had more insight into the culture that Jesus grew up in and some of the radical thing he did, we’d understand the faith that God has in all of us.

Next Kingdom Economics

Comments

  • Frank

    • 3 years ago
    That reminds me of the quote by Rick Warren: "Humility is not thinking less of yourself; it is thinking of yourself less. Humility is thinking more of others. Humble people are so focused on serving others, they don't think of themselves." I think it's hard to find the balance Rick Bell talks about, though--knowing the Lord felt each of us was worth suffering and dying for and that we're precious to Him, while also knowing we're sinners who are nothing without Him and depending on Him to do the work through us. But I guess trying to find that sort of balance keeps us seeking Him, which must be part of His plan.

  • Jon

    • 3 years ago
    More on Humility: This quote from Andrew Murray is quite convicting and sometimes seems so impossible to obtain: "Humility is vitally important, and should be one of the main virtues we seek after as the distinguishing feature of the disciple of Jesus. It is the cardinal virtue, the main root from which Godly graces can grow and a very necessary condition for true fellowship with Jesus. Meekness and lowliness of heart are the chief mark by which they who follow the meek and lowly Lamb of God are to be known." -- Andrew Murray

    I think what you said above Frank, about the Lord felt each one of us was worth suffering and dying for, is such a key to staying content and full of joy. And realizing that He feels that way about every human being, helps me to respect others as image bearers of God, and be somewhat more patient with people! It is often so easy to lose patience with some people, which really is the opposite of humility, not esteeming others better than ourselves. It is interesting that Paul says you need humility to do this: "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves."

    Andrew Murray in his book on Humility says that it was Humility that actually saved us as Jesus, "... being found in appearance as a man, humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!" It was Jesus's humility that made Him accept the cross.

    It clarifies the saying "Humility is synonymous with Love," as Love led Jesus to the cross, but He had to totally humble himself in order to accomplish this.

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