Corona Devo 1879
I heard some (really) good news through the grapevine the other day. The son of a good friend of mine had received a big scholarship. Big. It's the news that every parent of a senior in high school longs to hear, and I couldn't wait to congratulate them.
I'm not sure what I expected her to say, but I imagined she might respond with, "We're so proud of him", or "He's worked really hard for this", but she didn't even mention her son in her response to me.
She mentioned God.
Well--she gave God the credit for blessing them with the scholarship.
...Not her son. ...Not herself. ...Not fate. ...Not justice. ...Not earning or deserving.
Just that they were blessed to receive it.
Somehow, her response cut to the quick of my soul. These were her words, and not God's Words, but they drew back the curtain of my pride and exposed me.
For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. ~Hebrews 4:12
I was happy for my friends, and my intention in reaching out was wholesome. But her humility seemed to shine a spotlight on my pride.
I was convicted by her simple, humble, and God-focused response.
What would I have said?
My gut told me that I didn't want to know.
But the word of God tells us how we should respond in such instances, and it should be...as she did.
My friend was just being herself, and in giving full credit to the Lord, her faith and dependence on Him shined through. Her humility grabbed me. And it convicted me.
What do we do when faced with compliments or blessings?
It is almost easier to be faced with strife, because we can (and do) "muscle through" hardship more easily than giving God the glory and credit.
Grace in the face of accomplishment can be difficult for our flesh, because a humble heart is hard work. Or, more definitively: a humble heart will have deep roots in God and the power/sovereignty/authority of God.
Where are our roots running to: Our efforts and accomplishments...or God's? And--how deep are our roots? We can figure this out by following our heart when the award is given or the accomplishment achieved. In our mind, who gets the glory? Us or God?
Fire tests the purity of silver and gold, but a person is tested by being praised. ~Proverbs 27:21
When I first encountered this phrase, I didn't understand it. But now I do.
When we are center stage and all eyes are on us: who are we pointing at: ourselves or the Lord?
Are we taking a bow for all that "we've" accomplished, or are we lifting our eyes and hearts to Heaven in gratitude and praise to the One who made it happen?
To the arrogant I say, ‘Boast no more,’ and to the wicked, ‘Do not lift up your horns.
(5) Do not lift your horns against heaven; do not speak so defiantly.’”
(6) No one from the east or the west or from the desert can exalt themselves.
(7) It is God who judges: He brings one down, he exalts another. ~Psalm 75:4-7
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"It's all God."
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Our kids often lead their weekly school Christian fellowship groups, like--very often. But another young lady led yesterday, and our kids said that it went really well. They had larger numbers in attendance and the lesson was excellent, my kids said.
When I recently happened to see the young lady that led the group, I complimented her leadership, initiative and delivery, encouraging and thanking her for how well the meeting had gone.
"It's all God", she said in a quiet and immediate response.
And she meant it. In her heart and in her mind and in her faith, it was all God, and she gave Him all of the glory. (I think He liked that.)
- This is what the Lord says: “Let not the wise boast of their wisdom or the strong boast of their strength or the rich boast of their riches, (24) but let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,” declares the Lord. ~Jeremiah 9:23-24
- Do not brag about tomorrow, since you don't know what the day will bring. Let someone else praise you, not your own mouth. A stranger, not your own lips. ~Proverbs 27:1-2
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It shouldn't be a surprise to me that the Lord is hammering me about humility. He sees our shortcomings and flaws very clearly, and He loves us (His children) enough to make corrections to our behavior.
A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. ~Luke 6:45
What are we "speaking" today?
What do we "speak" when compliments, blessings, or honor come our way?
Our words will reveal our heart and our dependence: us or God?
Before a downfall the heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor. ~Proverbs 18:12
~~~
I heard through the grapevine that "It's all God."
Blessings,
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