Posts Tagged ‘humility’

15
Feb

STRINGS ATTACHED

   Posted by: pastordiehl    in Uncategorized

John Newton, author of the now famous hymn Amazing Grace, also wrote the following poem about a kite:

“Were I but free, I’d take to flight,
And pierce the clouds beyond their sight,
But, ah! Like a poor pris’ner bound,
My string confines me near the ground.”

The poem continues and the kite finally does manage to free itsself, but instead of soaring higher in the sky, it crashes into the sea. The poem was entitled ‘The Kite: or Pride Must Have a Fall.’

The analogy calls me to reconsider some “strings” that make me feel constrained, like vows, promises, commitments, responsibilities. Although such things make me feel tied down, God uses them to hold me up. James said, “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up” (James 4:10).

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22
Jan

Justice, Mercy and Humility

   Posted by: pastordiehl    in Uncategorized

Micah 6:8 says, “He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God”.

These are three interesting requirements. 1) We are to do justly. Justice is what is deserved. Justice honors the Law. If I deserve it, I can demand it. It is owed to me. I am to live my life sowing seeds because I can expect to reap what I sow.

2) We are also required to love mercy. Mercy is the opposite of justice. Mercy is when I get what I don’t deserve. Mercy is when I find grace because I deserved justice. I am to do justly, while I am to love mercy. How do we reconcile these two opposite concepts?

3) We are to walk humbly with our God. To walk humbly is to recognize that we are nothing in ourselves. It is to remain open as vessels that God can use in any manner He chooses. I am to act justly, while demonstrating mercy to others, so I can be a humble servant of the Lord Jesus Christ. These things the Lord requires of us.

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