Good morning…
Writing yesterday’s blog post, Grass Isn’t Always Greener, I was tucked in between two life-giving emails. Before I began writing around 4:30 am, I read the following encouragement from my eighty-seven year old friend.
Sue,
Thank you for including me in your blog, which cheered me up, once again in the story of our Lord’s birth. There is no record of Mary’s complaining in her circumstances. I can’t imagine going through what she did. I, who would complain of staying in a motel without air conditioning in summer, cannot imagine Mary’s humility in her circumstances. But, the Lord gave us this record in Scripture to inspire us to take on Mary’s kind of humility and perseverance in our walk with Christ. Even at my age, I learn something new every day. You inspire me, so I, too, love you and am grateful for our close friendship. Love in Christ.
At 6:46 am, I pushed “send” on our blog post which ended with the Amplified Bible translation of 1 Peter 1:23-25. A few moments later I received this email response from a loyal subscriber in Jacksonville, Florida.
Good morning Sue,
Great wisdom!! This morning we finish Jen Wilken’s study of 1 Peter in my women’s group, which we have loved. Your devotional made me think of 1 Peter 2:18 – that if we are “mindful of God” in our suffering we endure. A big “if.” Focusing our awareness on Him. Louis Giglio says, instead of our circumstances being the lens through which we see God, we have God as the lens through which we see our circumstances. Humility is the root. Jen references Luke 17:7-10 and I love N.T. Wright’s commentary:
“It’s not great faith you need; it is faith in a great God. Faith is like a window through which you can see something. What matters is not whether the window is six inches or six feet high; what matters is the God that your faith is looking out on. If it’s the creator God, the God active in Jesus and the Spirit, then the tiniest little peep-hole of a window will give you access to power like you never dreamed of. Of course, this cannot be used for your own whim or pleasure; as soon as you tried, it would show that you’d forgotten, once more, who this God really is. Humility once again.”
Love that!
What word weaves through us, as we are tucked in the middle of these two wise emails? Humility. Humility. Humility. Humility.
“There is no record of Mary’s complaining in her circumstances. I can’t imagine going through what she did. I, who would complain of staying in a motel without air conditioning in summer, cannot imagine Mary’s humility in her circumstances. But, the Lord gave us this record in Scripture to inspire us to take on Mary’s kind of humility and perseverance in our walk with Christ.”
“…instead of our circumstances being the lens through which we see God, we have God as the lens through which we see our circumstances. Humility is the root.”
“Faith is like a window through which you can see something…what matters is the God that your faith is looking out on. If it’s the creator God, the God active in Jesus and the Spirit, then the tiniest little peep-hole of a window will give you access to power like you never dreamed of. Of course, this cannot be used for your own whim or pleasure; as soon as you tried, it would show that you’d forgotten, once more, who this God really is. Humility once again.”
Humble yourselves [with an attitude of repentance and insignificance] in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you [He will lift you up, He will give you purpose] (James 4:10, AMP).
…Sue…
