Devotion for Sunday, July 24, 2022

“Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you” (James 4:10).

This does not say to pretend to be humble, for before the Lord that is not possible.  It means getting to the place where you are not thinking of yourself at all.  Empty yourself and the Lord will fill you.  Be a blank slate and the Lord will write what needs to be written.  Stop trying to direct and watch as the Lord creates in you the image of a child of God; one who is, like Christ, doing the will of God.

This is at the heart of the Christian walk.  The fall came through pride and the new life comes through humility.  Look at Christ and what do you see?  You see that He emptied Himself unto death, even death on a cross.  Come then and live into the life which is offered to you by grace.  Know that in the Lord there is hope and an eternal future.  He will do great things through you if He is Lord of your life.

Dear Lord Jesus, these are great promises but the world tugs at me each day.  Help me, O Lord, to see through the fog of this age in order that I might be made into the person You are making me to be.  Guide me, dear Lord, in the way of everlasting life so that I may truly become humble and live as You would have me live.  Lead me this day, step by step, to humbly do what You give me to do.  Amen.