Category Archives: Life of Jesus

True Humility

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HumilityGod espouses the character quality of humility. He looks for it in his children but no doubt finds it far less frequently than he’d like. That’s because in our world, me-first trumps humility, which makes God’s values the polar opposite of the world’s.

Humility is an attribute developed in secret, and though we can’t actually see it, we have a sense of when someone is humble. It doesn’t mean being shy, or favoring the back row, or being a doormat. Instead it’s having an unpretentious opinion of our own importance, the opposite of pride.

Humble people are hard to find, but I’m fortunate enough to know one personally: my sister Mary.

Mary has been debilitated emotionally and also physically in recent weeks with the discovery of cancer in her system. Alongside these negatives, however, has been the positive outpouring of well-wishers and in particular, promises of prayer. When she talks about it, her eyes mist and she says, “I just can’t get over it! It’s unbelievable how kind everyone’s been.”

Last week when she said this, shaking her head in disbelief, I said, “People are simply responding to the many things you’ve done for them over the years. They want to help you, because you’ve helped them so much.”

And here’s the humble part. Mary looked quizzically at me and said, “But how have I helped anyone? I haven’t done a thing.”

???????????????????????????????When she said that, the book title “One Thousand Gifts” came to mind, a written list of God’s gifts to the author. But if I wrote a book about Mary’s giving it would have to be titled “Ten Thousand Gifts.” Or maybe “A Hundred Thousand.” All of her life Mary’s been a giver. Quietly, behind the scenes, without keeping track, without expecting thanks. Humbly.

And that’s why she can’t think of anything she’s ever done for anyone else.

Even now, while facing significant surgery, time in an intensive care unit, and a recuperation that will be followed by chemotherapy, Mary’s thought is, how can I shine for Jesus through all this. She wants to know how she can impact nurses, doctors, tech people, anyone who crosses her path, with the love of Christ. And because God wants the same thing, he will see to the details.

None of this means Mary isn’t tempted to fear the unknown or give in to doubt. Just today she wrote in an email: “I’ve hidden Scripture verses in my heart, and by His grace, I’m reminded of them when I need them most. I just need to believe them… totally… and not doubt.”

It isn’t easy being at the center of a cancer drama, but Mary is living it humbly by God’s grace, which will always be, he says, sufficient to her need.

“God opposes the proud but favors the humble.So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come close to God, and God will come close to you.” (James 4:6-8)

Mary’s prayer requests:

  1. For God to increase her faith when she feels weak or fearful
  2. For his timely prompting of Bible verses she’s tucked away in her heart, whenever she’s discouraged
  3. For childlike belief in God’s promises without a trace of doubt

Broken

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A week ago I blogged about the difference between believing in God and believing God. (An Important Preposition) Within hours of hearing the words “pancreatic cancer,” Mary had held up her blue cord bracelet and repeated the truth she believed with all her heart:”I’m believing God!”

Blue embroidery threadThe night we tied those cords around our wrists last fall, Mary said, “I couldn’t find blue ribbon, but I did find blue embroidery thread. I hope it lasts through our 10 week study.”

Our study is on hold these days, and though the embroidery thread has held up, it’s gotten thinner and thinner. A few days ago, Mary called and said, “My blue cord just broke.”

Her daughter Marta retied what little was left, but the next day that, too, came apart. We talked about the tightly-tied bond Mary has with her Lord and that her blue “bracelet” was nothing but a representation of the real thing. Her faith hasn’t wavered, and she still believes God.

The Lord doesn’t want us to put our faith in things that can break or be taken away, whether it’s a bracelet, a job, a bank account, a possession, or a person. That’s why his Word repeatedly emphasizes that he is the only everlasting, unshakeable, immoveable, permanent “possession”.

But the age-old problem of believing without seeing repeatedly plagues us, especially during times of crisis. God knew that would be a stumbling block for us, so he did something about it.

He sent Jesus.

Scripture tells us Jesus is the visible representation of an invisible God, and by reading the Bible (especially the 4 Gospels), we see who he is, how he lived, and what he said during his time on earth. We’re shown everything from his babyhood through his death (and resurrection) at age 33. We’re given the details of what his life was like before he was born and are even told about his 9 months inside the Virgin Mary’s womb. God knew we needed to “see”, and he showed us.

The bottom line is that as we get to know Jesus, we are getting to know God. And when we believe Jesus, we are believing God.

Mary isn’t worried that her blue cord is no longer prompting her to remember that she believes God. Her confidence was never in that 6 inches of blue embroidery thread but has always been in the God she couldn’t see, and she’s still believing him.

Mary's broken braceletBy the way, she still has her wispy bit of faded blue thread. She saved it for some special purpose down the road, which she knows the Lord will show her when the time is right. And maybe it will serve as a helpful visual for someone who is still on their way to believing God.

“Christ is the visible image of the invisible God… He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see… God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ” (Colossians 1:15,16,19)

Mary’s prayer requests:

  1. For God’s comfort of Bervin and her children
  2. For successful physical fortification before surgery
  3. For the surgeon, Dr. Truty

Exit Strategy

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FootprintsOur dog Jack has always been a winter dog, and despite him being the doggy-equivalent of 80 years, he can still romp like a puppy when he’s out in the snow. Today while walking him, it struck me that I’ve memorized the various boot-prints of neighbors who are also out dog-walking each day. (Even when it’s fifteen-below, dogs must be walked!)

These days snow boots have all manner of “grid” on their soles, and though I don’t know which person’s prints belong to who, I do see the same patterns in the snow day after day. There are the feet with circle-prints, others with squiggly lines , some with tire-like treads, and one with a sunburst pattern. Although I rarely run into another person while walking Jack, the variety of footprints in the snow testifies to each one having been there.

All of us leave evidence in places we’ve been. Sometimes it’s negative, like when a child fixes a snack and walks away from a messy kitchen. Other times it’s positive, like when my sister hides a Scripture rock for me to find later. Even though she’s long gone when I discover it, her thoughtful persona lingers.

When we look at the verses in Scripture that describe situations where Jesus had just been, we see an interesting consistency.

Praises...He left people jumping up and down with joy, or shouting praises to God, or standing speechless and overcome with wonder. He left changed lives in his wake.

How often do I enter a home or other gathering place with any thought to my exit strategy? Since I often have regrets after leaving (should have, would have, could have), apparently not often enough. But it’s not only that.

On those rare occasions when I have left something positive in my wake, it hasn’t always been with sterling motives. Was my goal to remind them of how wonderful I was while I was with them? Or have I tried to leave behind an awareness that a Christ-follower was there? Honestly, my answers aren’t usually good ones.

But Jesus is a perfect tutor on this. He repeatedly modeled the right way to do it, often saying that everything he did was meant to leave behind an accurate impression of God his Father and of his relationship with him as a Son. In Hebrews we read, “The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being.” (1:3) A radiance is a glow that lingers, and Jesus passionately wanted us to remember him as the portrayal of a God who desires a personal love relationship with us.

None of us can do as well as Jesus, but wisdom should keep us working at it. Does this mean my pockets should be stuffed with Scripture rocks?

Scripture RockActually, that’s not a bad idea.

Jesus said, “I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father.” (John 14:31)