TODAY IN THE WORD

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Luke 18:9-14
God, have mercy on me, a sinner. - Luke 18:13
TODAY IN THE WORD
In “The Lost Button,” a story in the children's book, Frog and Toad Are Friends, by Arnold Lobel, Toad lost a button and Frog promised to help him find it. They retraced the steps of a walk they had been taking, searching everywhere, and everywhere they found buttons, but they were all the wrong size or shape or color. Toad got very upset, ran home, and slammed the door. And there on the floor was his lost button! “What a lot of trouble I have made for Frog,” Toad said, surprised and humbled. Then he took all the buttons they had found and sewed Frog a special jacket as an apology and sign of their friendship.

Those who heard Jesus' parable in today's reading also experienced a humbling surprise. The story didn't go at all like they thought it would. He described two men who went to the temple. One was a Pharisee, among the religious elite of the day; one was a tax collector, a despised Roman collaborator who had probably abused his position for personal gain. Both prayed. And the one who went home “justified before God” (v. 14) was . . . the tax collector? What? How did that happen?

Jesus told this parable with a specific audience in mind, to “some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else” (v. 9). In His story, the Pharisee's prayer was a self-serving proclamation of his own virtue and good works, an attempt to show off to God (vv. 11-12).

The tax collector's prayer, by contrast, was a plea for God's mercy (v. 13). His humility before the Lord and remorse over sin were also clearly demonstrated in his body language. Just as in the case of Isaiah, truly seeking and encountering God led to humility and a strong sense of the sin in his life. That's why God heard the prayer of the humble and repentant man, but not that of the proud and selfrighteous one.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Given the devotionals so far this month, now might be a good time to evaluate your attitude toward God. Do you approach Him in a spirit of reverence, awe, and humility? Though He is pleased to call us “friends” (James 2:23), it is not a friendship between equals and should not be approached carelessly or presumptuously. If you find yourself lacking in this area, here's an idea: Read or pray through several psalms. This is an excellent way to keep your heart in tune with the reality of who God is.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Luke 14:7-11
For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted. - Luke 14:11
TODAY IN THE WORD
In his book, In the Name of Jesus, Henri J. M. Nouwen wrote about Christlike leadership: “Immediately after Peter has been commissioned to be a leader of his sheep, Jesus confronts him with the hard truth that the servant-leader is the leader who is being led to unknown, undesirable, and painful places. The way of the Christian leader is not the way of upward mobility in which our world has invested so much, but the way of downward mobility ending on the cross. . . . [F]or those who have heard the voice of the first love and said ”˜yes' to it, the downward-moving way of Jesus is the way to the joy and the peace of God, a joy and peace that is not of this world.”

Humility as “downward mobility” is clearly seen in Jesus' picture of taking the lowest seat at the table. Attending dinner at a Pharisee's house, He noticed the guests jockeying for position (v. 7). Who would take the best seats? What was the pecking order? He could have remained silent, but since He'd already healed a man and rebuked the guests for their legalism (vv. 1-6), perhaps He figured He might as well keep trying to get through to them.

Jesus advised the dinner guests not to take the best seats, but the worst. He didn't put the matter in spiritual terms at first, but appealed to their pragmatism (vv. 8-10). If a person took a low seat, he might be raised to a higher one, but if he took a high seat to begin with, someone who outranked him might come in and he would then be forced to take a lower seat.

In the first scenario, there was nowhere to go but up, but in the second, no room for gain existed, only shame. The spiritual principle is the same as in yesterday's parable: To exalt oneself is to invite humbling by God, while to humble oneself before God is to be lifted up by Him (v. 11).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Sometimes we get the idea that “humility” means eating mud-pies, so to speak, or always being a wallflower. We confuse personality with spiritual virtue. Yet our greatest example of humility, our Savior Jesus Christ, was both humble and assertive. As you reflect on the Spirit's work of humility in your own life, consider what elements of your personality might be impacted. Pray that your cultural notions and definitions of humility, meekness, and simplicity would be replaced by biblical examples and truth.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Matthew 18:1-6
Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. - Matthew 18:4
TODAY IN THE WORD
In one of the early scenes in the movie, Stuart Little, Mr. and Mrs. Little go to an orphanage to find a child to adopt. The children there are used to this routine of adults coming, looking, and choosing one of them to take home. If a child is picked, his dreams of a real home and loving family can come true; if not, life continues on as it was. Though this scene is portrayed in the movie as a happy one, with smiling kids cheering for Stuart as the Littles drive away in a taxi, one must sympathize with the reality of children's powerlessness when hoping for adoption.

It is powerlessness and humility that Jesus had in mind in today's passage. The disciples, like the leaders at the dinner party in yesterday's passage, had been jockeying for position. In fact, they had been arguing over who would rank highest in the coming messianic kingdom (v. 1; cf. Mark 9:33-37). Jesus taught them the nature of their error through an object lesson: He called a child to come and stand among them. Did they seek greatness? Then they must become like this child (v. 3). What did that mean? Many of us think something like “innocent” or “pure,” and even the NIV Study Bible says “trusting and unpretentious,” but neither of these stereotypes fits with Jesus' clarification in the next verse: “Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven” (v. 4). Jesus was telling them to seek humility rather than power—that is the path to spiritual greatness.

This lesson has further implications. To welcome a child, or metaphorically, to stand with the powerless, is the same as welcoming Jesus Himself. Conversely, not to do so is to incur judgment on oneself (vv. 5-6; cf. Matt. 25:31-46). Apparently the disciples didn't learn these lessons very well, for in the next chapter they prevented children from approaching the Lord, and even rebuked those who had brought them to receive His blessing (19:13-15).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Children's literature can remind us what it is like to be a child and how children perceive the world. The authors of children's books are not children themselves, of course, but they are able to make intuitive and imaginative leaps back into the world of childhood. As one way to understand better what Jesus meant in today's passage, we encourage you to spend time reading (or re-reading) some children's literature, either on your own, with a child in your life, or in a book group with friends.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: John 13:1-17
Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love. - John 13:1
TODAY IN THE WORD
Lawndale Community Church on the west side of Chicago serves its neighborhood in many practical ways. There are numerous examples: The Philippian Ministry encourages children and families in which a family member is incarcerated. Hope House assists men who have just gotten out of prison or off drugs to get their lives together again, both physically and spiritually. The Stephen Ministry reaches out to people who are going through rough times in their lives. The Samaritan House provides temporary shelter for homeless families. A food pantry distributes food to those in need.

In these and many other ways, Lawndale Community Church follows Jesus' example of servanthood, as mandated in John 13. For our purposes today, what we will focus on in this well-known passage is the fact that Christ's service was grounded in humility. We know this because the act of foot washing was a practical, humble action. Dusty feet in sandals needed washing upon arrival—there were typically servants assigned to do it. But somehow this had been overlooked in the Passover meal preparations, so the Lord stepped up—or rather, down—and met the need.

On what was Jesus' humility based? First, His confidence in His Father's sovereign plan freed Him to serve with humility (vv. 1, 3). He had no need to seek the highest seat at the table or promote His own interests. He could instead rest in the knowledge that His mission was nearing completion, and God's will would be done. Second, His love for His disciples motivated Him to serve with humility (v. 1). The simple act of foot washing showed them the “full extent” of His love, a rather amazing statement in light of the fact that the Cross was imminent.

Humility is an important part of what we are to imitate about Christ's action here (vv. 14-17). Instead of arguing about who's the greatest, we need to follow our Master and take the “low” position of service.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
One way to respond to today's devotion would be to volunteer for clean-up at your church. Even if you attend a large church that can afford to hire maintenance staff, your help in cleaning up after a potluck, youth group event, or other special occasion is likely to be much appreciated. Or you might step up for one of those jobs that no one really wants to do, such as washing the toys in the nursery. Find some practical, behind-the-scenes ways to imitate our Lord!

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Philippians 2:1-4
In humility consider others better than yourselves. - Philippians 2:3
TODAY IN THE WORD
What might the world have to say in response to the humility described in today's reading? Several recent book titles give us the general idea: Promoting Yourself: 52 Lessons for Getting to the Top . . . and Staying There; Promoting Yourself: 50 Ways to Increase Your Prestige, Power, and Paycheck; 101 Ways to Promote Yourself: Tricks of the Trade for Taking Charge of Your Own Success; Selling Yourself: Be the Competent, Confident Person You Really Are! In other words, the answer to the question is “me, me, me” and more “me”! The world revolves around self. Self must go out and get the best possible life for self that self can get.

Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit, taught otherwise. The “if” that begins these verses is not a conditional or “maybe” statement, but rather an assumption about what is true. What is true is that we have multiple benefits from our salvation in and union with Christ, including encouragement, comfort, fellowship, tenderness, and compassion. Two main behaviors should flow from these benefits: unity and humility. “Unity” is described as being like-minded, being in one accord in spirit and purpose, and living in harmony with one another. “Humility” means considering others better than oneself and not acting out of pride or selfish ambition. What does this mean? We should treat people as created in the image of God, and we should love them as He does. Looking for others' benefit in this way is antithetical to the “looking out for #1” motto of the world.

The foundation for all of this is Christ. Because of our spiritual union with Him, because of His love for us, and because He sent His Holy Spirit, we are able to aspire to unity and humility. As we saw yesterday, humility requires a rest-filled faith in God, that is, a confidence in who we are in Christ. Just as confidence in His Father's love and power freed Jesus to do a servant's action, being encouraged and comforted in Him frees us to act humbly.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Please read Philippians 2:3-4 one more time. When is the last specific time you can remember obeying this command? If you're not sure, or if the time you think of is embarrassingly far back, choose a specific person and action and carry out these verses before the week is done. We're asking you to choose not in order to eliminate spontaneity, but because we assume you probably already know of a specific situation in which you can put another person first and please the Lord through your obedience.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Philippians 2:5-11
Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus. - Philippians 2:5
TODAY IN THE WORD
Henri J. M. Nouwen's book, In the Name of Jesus, has many insights into leadership and humility, and we're quoting it a second time (see Jan. 5): “[Christian leadership] is not a leadership of power and control, but a leadership of powerlessness and humility in which the suffering servant of God, Jesus Christ, is made manifest. . . . I am speaking of a leadership in which power is constantly abandoned in favor of love. It is a true spiritual leadership. Powerlessness and humility in the spiritual life . . . refer to people who are so deeply in love with Jesus that they are ready to follow him wherever he guides them, always trusting that, with him, they will find life and find it abundantly.”

Christ's incarnational humility is celebrated in today's reading, which begins a string of five biblical examples of humility. We've dealt with humility before God and humility with others, so now we turn to examine some concrete examples of how humility is lived out in daily life. In what way did the Incarnation model humility for us? First, Christ took a lower position (vv. 6-7). The Son of God became a man, a definite “step down.” He “made himself nothing” or “emptied himself” (nasb), a phrase that has generated much theological debate through the centuries. The essential truth is that He didn't claim the rights of divinity during His earthly life, but experienced and submitted to being human, including, for example, hunger and fatigue. Second, Jesus' life modeled humility in that He was a man destined for an ignoble death (cf. Isa. 53). He acted in obedience to the Father and for the redemption of the world, but He came knowing that He would be executed as a criminal.

Jesus also illustrates the principle of reversal: that God exalts the humble (vv. 9-11; Luke 18:14). Christ took the lowest place, but God raised Him to the highest, and one day every knee will bow before Him.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
We hope that reading today's text, probably an ancient hymn about Christ, has put you in the mood for a more modern hymn about Christ. Why not close your devotional time today by reading or singing one? If you don't have a hymn book at home, we encourage you to purchase one at your earliest opportunity, but in the meantime, lyrics and music for most hymns can be found on the Internet. Two hymns that would make good choices are “Rejoice, the Lord is King” and “O, the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus.”

[Def]

Read: Philippians 2:1-4
In humility consider others better than yourselves. - Philippians 2:3
TODAY IN THE WORD
What might the world have to say in response to the humility described in today's reading? Several recent book titles give us the general idea: Promoting Yourself: 52 Lessons for Getting to the Top . . . and Staying There; Promoting Yourself: 50 Ways to Increase Your Prestige, Power, and Paycheck; 101 Ways to Promote Yourself: Tricks of the Trade for Taking Charge of Your Own Success; Selling Yourself: Be the Competent, Confident Person You Really Are! In other words, the answer to the question is “me, me, me” and more “me”! The world revolves around self. Self must go out and get the best possible life for self that self can get.

Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit, taught otherwise. The “if” that begins these verses is not a conditional or “maybe” statement, but rather an assumption about what is true. What is true is that we have multiple benefits from our salvation in and union with Christ, including encouragement, comfort, fellowship, tenderness, and compassion. Two main behaviors should flow from these benefits: unity and humility. “Unity” is described as being like-minded, being in one accord in spirit and purpose, and living in harmony with one another. “Humility” means considering others better than oneself and not acting out of pride or selfish ambition. What does this mean? We should treat people as created in the image of God, and we should love them as He does. Looking for others' benefit in this way is antithetical to the “looking out for #1” motto of the world.

The foundation for all of this is Christ. Because of our spiritual union with Him, because of His love for us, and because He sent His Holy Spirit, we are able to aspire to unity and humility. As we saw yesterday, humility requires a rest-filled faith in God, that is, a confidence in who we are in Christ. Just as confidence in His Father's love and power freed Jesus to do a servant's action, being encouraged and comforted in Him frees us to act humbly.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Please read Philippians 2:3-4 one more time. When is the last specific time you can remember obeying this command? If you're not sure, or if the time you think of is embarrassingly far back, choose a specific person and action and carry out these verses before the week is done. We're asking you to choose not in order to eliminate spontaneity, but because we assume you probably already know of a specific situation in which you can put another person first and please the Lord through your obedience.

How much humility do you need when you live with darkness(Pigs, i had to write  it)I don't want to be like them.
i have so so much to learne...Help!

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Daniel 4:1-37
Those who walk in pride he is able to humble. - DanIel 4:37
TODAY IN THE WORD
Michael Vick, star quarterback of the Atlanta Falcons football team, was on top of the world. He was young, he had fame, he had money. But his dream turned sour last summer when he was indicted on dogfighting charges. Though at first he claimed innocence, he was forced to plead guilty when several other defendants struck legal deals in exchange for their testimony against him. He apologized to the league, his team, and the fans, but he still lost lucrative endorsement deals, was suspended indefinitely by the NFL, and will probably spend time in prison. The Falcons also demanded back $22 million of his bonus money.

Vick went from the top of the world to the bottom of the heap. Nebuchadnezzar knew that feeling, too. Today's chapter is in the form of a royal proclamation or letter, one in which the king told the story of how his pride had incurred God's humbling judgment. Since that judgment had been a very public seven-year ordeal, he wanted to make sure the entire Babylonian empire understood the meaning of what had happened.

The narrative falls into three parts: (1) The dream. A huge tree was chopped down, a picture of what would happen if the king's pride continued (vv. 15b-16). Through this warning, God offered mercy even to a pagan ruler. (2) The interpretation. It took some guts for God's prophet, Daniel, to interpret the dream further. Imagine telling one of the world's most powerful men that he needed to repent! (3) The judgment. Nebuchadnezzar's immediate response to these warnings is not recorded, but about one year later the events prophesied came to pass. The moment he boasted of his own glory (v. 30), God took his reason and exiled him to live like a wild animal. The lesson ended only when the king gave proper honor to the Lord (vv. 34-35).

We should not trust in our achievement or success. Pride in such things displaces God, the only One worthy of our humble trust. Those who walk in pride he is able to humble.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Keeping a spiritual journal or diary is a good habit, one that helps us keep track of where, how, and why we've been on our journey of faith. Today, we recommend that you write a spiritual journal entry on the topic of pride. Specifically, what area of your life do you feel is the most full of pride? Why? What have you tried to do about it? What has God done to teach you humility in this area? What more do you want the Spirit to do in the future?

[Def]

Read: Daniel 4:1-37
Those who walk in pride he is able to humble. - DanIel 4:37
TODAY IN THE WORD
Michael Vick, star quarterback of the Atlanta Falcons football team, was on top of the world. He was young, he had fame, he had money. But his dream turned sour last summer when he was indicted on dogfighting charges. Though at first he claimed innocence, he was forced to plead guilty when several other defendants struck legal deals in exchange for their testimony against him. He apologized to the league, his team, and the fans, but he still lost lucrative endorsement deals, was suspended indefinitely by the NFL, and will probably spend time in prison. The Falcons also demanded back $22 million of his bonus money.

Vick went from the top of the world to the bottom of the heap. Nebuchadnezzar knew that feeling, too. Today's chapter is in the form of a royal proclamation or letter, one in which the king told the story of how his pride had incurred God's humbling judgment. Since that judgment had been a very public seven-year ordeal, he wanted to make sure the entire Babylonian empire understood the meaning of what had happened.

The narrative falls into three parts: (1) The dream. A huge tree was chopped down, a picture of what would happen if the king's pride continued (vv. 15b-16). Through this warning, God offered mercy even to a pagan ruler. (2) The interpretation. It took some guts for God's prophet, Daniel, to interpret the dream further. Imagine telling one of the world's most powerful men that he needed to repent! (3) The judgment. Nebuchadnezzar's immediate response to these warnings is not recorded, but about one year later the events prophesied came to pass. The moment he boasted of his own glory (v. 30), God took his reason and exiled him to live like a wild animal. The lesson ended only when the king gave proper honor to the Lord (vv. 34-35).

We should not trust in our achievement or success. Pride in such things displaces God, the only One worthy of our humble trust. Those who walk in pride he is able to humble.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Keeping a spiritual journal or diary is a good habit, one that helps us keep track of where, how, and why we've been on our journey of faith. Today, we recommend that you write a spiritual journal entry on the topic of pride. Specifically, what area of your life do you feel is the most full of pride? Why? What have you tried to do about it? What has God done to teach you humility in this area? What more do you want the Spirit to do in the future?

I have been writing to God every morning for a couple of hours for the past 9 years.and do not leave my writing until I feel and say that was good.thank you Holy  Spirit for you guiding me in these communications in Jesus Christ my Lord and saviour Thank  You my Father your daughter in Jesus .me def

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Matthew 23:1-12
The greatest among you will be your servant. - Matthew 23:11
TODAY IN THE WORD
“They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long,” Jesus said of the Pharisees (v. 5). Phylacteries, called “tephillin” by modern Jews, are small leather boxes or pouches attached by straps to one's arm or forehead. They contain several texts from the Pentateuch, including Deuteronomy 6:4-9. The tassels were found on prayer shawls and alluded to the Tent of Meeting from the days of the Exodus. They also served as reminders of the Law's commands. Phylacteries and tassels ideally symbolized true faith and devotion, but the Pharisees used them to parade their “faith and devotion” in front of others.

The pride and hypocrisy of these religious leaders illuminate, by contrast, the virtue of humility. The hypocrisy consisted in the fact that they didn't practice what they preached (v. 3). As we might say today, “They talked the talk, but didn't walk the walk.” This hypocrisy was caused by pride. They did their religious duties to be seen and praised by others. For example, they flaunted their phylacteries and tassels, as described above. They vied for the best seats at banquets (see Jan. 5), as well as for the special bench in front of the cabinet where the scrolls of the Law were kept in synagogues. They craved public recognition. Jesus said, “They have received their reward in full” (Matt. 6:5).

In contrast to human hierarchy, Jesus taught true equality (vv. 8-10). Before the Lord, titles are meaningless. God alone can be considered our true Master, Father, and Teacher, a truth leading to humility (vv. 11-12).

Amazingly, Jesus had begun all this by saying that people should still obey the Pharisees. Why? Because they sat “in Moses' seat,” meaning that their authority ultimately resided not in them personally, but in the Scriptures (the Law of Moses) which they taught (vv. 2-3). “Do as they say, not as they do,” Jesus was essentially saying, as well as showing us that others' pride is no reason to be proud ourselves.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
What's your definition of “humility”? Consider answering this question by writing another spiritual journal entry, perhaps one that builds on or continues your journal entry from yesterday. Don't just answer off the top of your head. Review the Scripture passages and devotional readings, make notes, pray, and discuss your ideas with fellow believers. Then you'll be able to write an explanation that is accurate, godly, and challenging. Seeing our target clearly is a prerequisite to hitting it!

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Numbers 12:1-15
Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth. - Numbers 12:3
TODAY IN THE WORD
Today's verse might come as a surprise, because we don't tend to picture Moses as a humble man. This might be due to how he's depicted in movies such as The Ten Commandments. As Charlton Heston, for example, calls down the ten plagues, thunders “Let my people go!”, or raises his staff to divide the Red Sea, the words “humble” and “meek” don't exactly spring to mind!

A strong leader who is also humble is a rare combination. But Scripture declares Moses to have been “more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth” (v. 3). As a national leader and prophet, Moses had reasons to be proud, but he hadn't given in to the temptation. This is clear in today's reading, when his own brother and sister, Aaron and Miriam, attacked him. They did so through gossip, condemning the fact that he had a “Cugotcha2e wife.”

Their real problem, however, was jealousy over his special relationship with the Lord. God had empowered him to face down a king and do awesome miracles. God had given him the Law on Mount Sinai. And Moses' face shone from meeting with God, who often filled him with His Spirit.

Aaron and Miriam might also have felt that the recent appointment of seventy elders (11:10-25) diluted their own leadership positions. Whatever the impetus for their attack, they were the ones guilty of the self-seeking arrogance with which they charged Moses.

Moses did nothing—God Himself defended His humble servant. The three of them were summoned to the Tent of Meeting, where the Lord rebuked Miriam and Aaron in words (vv. 6-8) and with a judgment of leprosy on Miriam, probably indicating she had instigated the complaint. Moses' prayer brought healing and mercy, but her seven-day quarantine outside the camp was a public, humbling reminder of how God deals with those who try to exalt themselves.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Part of the problem in today's reading was gossip. It's quite possible that gossip is a problem in your church as well—snide remarks about what qualities someone lacks, or “prayer requests” that are actually juicy tidbits about others. Resolve today to have no part in such talk! Gossip tears down rather than builds up, and makes the teller feel selfishly important and powerful. Remember what Proverbs says: “A perverse man stirs up dissension, and a gossip separates close friends” (16:28).

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Acts 20:17-24
I served the Lord with great humility and with tears. - Acts 20:19
TODAY IN THE WORD
In 2006, archaeologists unearthed a coffin thought to be that of Paul the apostle. Tradition has long held that Paul was martyred in Rome, and that a church was built on the site of his original burial. Over the main altar in Rome's Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, a church founded by Emperor Constantine on this site in the fourth century, hangs a marble tombstone inscribed in Latin, “Apostle Paul, Martyr.” The sarcophagus in which the coffin was found dates back to 390 a.d., at which time it was on display for religious pilgrims. Though the coffin has now been excavated, to date it has not been opened.

Whether this coffin contains the remains of Paul might be difficult to prove, but we have undeniable proof that Paul's life profoundly shaped the history of the church. In today's reading, he met in Miletus with the elders of the Ephesian church to say farewell. Why Miletus? Because he was in a Spirit-compelled hurry to reach Jerusalem (v. 16). Instead of taking time to go to Ephesus, he asked the leaders to meet with him at a coastal city to the south. Why farewell? Because he thought he might be martyred once he reached Jerusalem. Several prophecies had been made regarding persecution that he would experience there. Paul wouldn't die in Jerusalem, though he was in fact arrested and faced trial there. His moving farewell to the Ephesian elders eloquently communicates his care for this church and its leaders.

The Apostle urged the Ephesians to continued faithfulness, based on his godly example. Note what he highlights about himself: “I served the Lord with great humility and with tears” (v. 19). From a foundation of humility and service, he had been able to endure persecution, preach boldly, and spread the gospel cross-culturally. Humility was foundational because it reflected the truth that the significance of his life paled in comparison with the incredible importance of the gospel (v. 24). Humility sets aside everything—including pride, personal risk, and worldly priorities—to pursue God's goals and spread the good news of Christ.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
As we know from Paul's letter to the Ephesians (1:3-14), the apostle lived for the gospel and the glory of God. Nothing else mattered. The gospel in a nutshell is this: Christ died for our sins and whoever believes in Him has eternal life (John 3:16). Have you accepted this gift of salvation? It cannot be bought or earned, and a decision cannot be avoided. If you are not a follower of Christ, we urge you today to take a step of faith and accept God's gift of Christ's sacrifice . . . and welcome to the family!

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Romans 12:9-21
Honor one another above yourselves. - Romans 12:10
TODAY IN THE WORD
Benedict of Nursia, an important leader in the sixth-century Christian church, wrote about something he called the “Ladder of Humility.” This “ladder” had twelve “steps” or aspects: reverence for God; doing God's will; obedience or submission to others; enduring affliction or suffering for Christ; confession of sin; contentment; self-reproach (in the spirit of Ps. 22:6); obeying the common rule of the monastery (which in our day might mean submission to church leaders); silence or holding our tongues (in the spirit of Prov. 10:19); seriousness, meaning not given to giddy or silly laughter; simple or sensible speech; and humility rather than ostentatiousness in outward appearance.

“If we ascend all of these steps of humility,” Benedict wrote, “we shall arrive at that love of God which, being perfect, casts out all fear.” He understood well that humility must be a part of our daily Christian walk, that it should be a spiritual habit and action cultivated over time, and that humility and love are integrally related. Over the next six days, we'll carefully examine what humility looks like in the everyday walk of faith.

In today's reading, humility appears as one in a list of Christian virtues, a list that shows how goodness and holiness and intertwined. This “web of virtue” includes about sixteen qualities, including passion for righteousness, zeal for service, joy, patience, prayerfulness, and a forgiving spirit. These qualities help us not to be overcome by evil but to overcome evil with good (v. 21). They are all basically subsumed under the characteristic of genuine Christian love (v. 9). The person and power of the Holy Spirit undergird everything (cf. Gal. 5:22-23).

Humility is manifested in these verses in two commands. One is to “honor one another above yourselves” (v. 10; cf. Phil. 2:3). This is not a natural tendency! The other directive is not to be proud or conceited (v. 16). The implied reason for humility here is that Christ loved and died for us all equally.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
A good way to apply today's devotional would be to put verse 16 into practice on the job: “Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.” At work, we often focus on working with our peers or pleasing those in authority over us, which might make us functionally blind to “people of low position.” Open your eyes today and find one such person for whom Christ would want you to show love and respect.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Psalm 131
Like a weaned child is my soul within me. - Psalm 131:2
TODAY IN THE WORD
British poet Christina Rossetti once prayed for humility: “Eternal God, let this mind be in us which was also in Christ Jesus; that as he from his loftiness stooped to the death of the cross, so we in our lowliness may humble ourselves, believing, obeying, living and dying, for his name's sake.”

Humility imitates Christ and trusts in the Father absolutely. When Jesus during Passion Week arrived at the climax of His mission of redemption, He trusted absolutely in the sovereign plan of His Father. He knew that God was in total control and that nothing could happen that was outside of His will, no matter how bad things got. That's the kind of humble faith found in today's reading—the faith of a child in his mother's arms.

This short psalm makes its main point through contrast, comparing what the worshiper is not with what he is. What he is not is proud and haughty (v. 1). His “eyes” don't look down on others. He doesn't concern himself “with great matters,” meaning he doesn't rely on his own strength or understanding (cf. Prov. 3:5-6), and he doesn't seek his own glory. He knows his proper place before the God of the universe—like a child in his mother's arms, quiet, trusting, and peaceful (v. 2). Realistically, his soul needs comforting just as children sometimes need cuddling and soothing.

This is how to walk in humility and trust (v. 3). These themes take on a special poignancy in light of the psalm's historical status. The header, “A song of ascents,” meant it was sung as part of national worship, while ascending the uphill road toward Jerusalem (Zion) or the stairs to the temple. Yet, although probably David had written this in Israel's golden age, it was more widely used after the conquered and scattered people had returned from the Exile. Solomon's temple no longer even existed. Despite all they had endured, the people still worshiped in humility and trust.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Psalm 131 pictures a faithful heart as a child snuggled up against a parent. What a privilege to know that even if our own parents failed us, God offers us a place of quiet security in the warmth of His love. If this image of God is difficult for you, either because you view Him as harsh or because your examples of parenting have been flawed, pray today that God will embrace you with His comfort.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Proverbs 3:21-35
He mocks proud mockers but gives grace to the humble. - Proverbs 3:34
TODAY IN THE WORD
Leadership works through servanthood? Humility leads to greatness? Theologian William Barclay understood the paradoxes at the heart of Christian faith: “[T]he way to power lies through the realization of helplessness; the way to victory lies through the admission of defeat; the way to goodness lies through the confession and the acknowledgment of sin . . . the way to independence lies through dependence, the way to freedom lies through surrender . . . the way to bliss which the world can neither give nor take away lies through the recognition of our own need, and the conviction that the need can be met, when we commit to God in perfect trust.”

Do you want strength and wisdom and success? These are “power words”! But to get them in God's kingdom, we must cherish and practice humility. The overall theme of today's reading is the pursuit of wisdom as part of a “web of virtues” combining goodness and holiness (see Jan. 14). These qualities include kindness, honesty, peaceableness, contentment, and integrity (vv. 27-32).

With reference to humility, the key is verse 34: “He mocks proud mockers but gives grace to the humble.” “Mock” implies “laugh at.” Why does God laugh at the proud? Because before Him, the Creator and Ruler of the universe, pride and selfexaltation come off as absurd. That such a finite thing as a human being could imagine itself at the center of the universe is not only false but ludicrous or laughable. Humble people, on the other hand, have a proper sense of themselves in relation to God. They are able to receive, and God delights to give them, His grace and favor. What could be sweeter?

The benefits of this kind of God-seeking and God-honoring lifestyle are many (vv. 21-26). Faith is strengthened. We can walk in sureness and safety, receiving God's blessings. Obedience brings life and makes the life we live an “ornament” or piece of jewelry, that is, beautiful.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
“My son, do not forget my teaching,” says Proverbs 3:1. This prompts the question of how we should teach children about humility, particularly as they are living in a culture that promotes Me-ism and selfishness. Children are individuals, and no single approach will guarantee results for every child. But thinking through suggestions for children in preschool, elementary, middle school, and high school will also help us ponder our own lessons about humility.