Liz’s Morning Devotional: Scripture selected from Upper Room
January 19, 2023
Read Matthew 23:1-12
1 Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and his disciples, 2 “The legal experts and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat. 3 Therefore, you must take care to do everything they say. But don’t do what they do. 4 For they tie together heavy packs that are impossible to carry. They put them on the shoulders of others, but are unwilling to lift a finger to move them. 5 Everything they do, they do to be noticed by others. They make extra-wide prayer bands for their arms and long tassels for their clothes. 6 They love to sit in places of honor at banquets and in the synagogues. 7 They love to be greeted with honor in the markets and to be addressed as ‘Rabbi.’ 8 “But you shouldn’t be called Rabbi, because you have one teacher, and all of you are brothers and sisters. 9 Don’t call anybody on earth your father, because you have one Father, who is heavenly. 10 Don’t be called teacher, because Christ is your one teacher. 11 But the one who is greatest among you will be your servant. 12 All who lift themselves up will be brought low. But all who make themselves low will be lifted up.
Good Morning, You raise us up when we are weak!
Humility can be a difficult pill to swallow. I’m sure that we can all think of times that we have been wronged by someone. We know we are right, so we believe that we have no reason to be the one who offers an apology. What about those times when we recognize that we are the best . . . in the room? Do we use this realization to enjoy our superiority, or do we look for ways to bring others up to our level?
The Pharisees and Jewish leaders loved to exhibit their position of power and prominence to others. After all, they were educated and they had the means to live a good life. This is not just an issue of times past. If asked, we could all name someone, or perhaps many, who believe that they are better than others. In our secular world order, being the best is a goal for many. The problem is not being the best; the problem is how you react to being the best. Do you project this air of superiority, or can you humble yourself and use your abilities to help others? Are you willing to get your hands dirty and do the work?
Jesus came to teach us by his example that we to humble ourselves before God and before others. The master shall be the servant. Those who are strong lift up those in need. “With great power, comes great responsibility!” Each of us is blessed with unique gifts, not so that we can laud them over others, but so we can work together to meet the needs of the one body of believers. What good is the yeast if we have no flour?
Jesus humbled himself before the meek, the outcasts, and the downtrodden. The fellowship of believers is called to gather all who hunger for the Word of God. Not one of us is called to stand atop the mountain alone. Jesus, the Son of God, humbles himself before the least of us for the last shall be first.
Loving God, Thank You for being with us. O God, make me a servant, humble and meek. Thank you! In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen
Thought for the day: How is God calling me to demonstrate humility today?
Serve with joy! Pastor Liz
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