MATTHEW 15:10-11; 17-20 – And he called the people to him and said to them, “Hear and understand: it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.” Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the stomach and is expelled? But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. These are what defile a person. But to eat with unwashed hands does not defile anyone.”
THEME OF THE DAY. GOD’S SCHOOL OF HUMILIATION. God has many ways of humbling human beings. In the Old Testament He sent King Nebuchadnezzar into the woods to live like a beast and that did it. We may read the account in Daniel 4:28-25. After this humiliating “camping trip” the king said, “Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for all his works are right and his ways are just; and those who walk in pride he is able to humble” (Daniel 4:37). Moving into the New Testament, we find the Apostle Paul in God’s school of humiliation through a “thorn in his flesh” – “So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited” (2 Corinthians 12:7). Yes, the Lord has endless ways to make us humble to reveal our need for His constant grace. And if we ever want to make a difference for Christ in our homes, churches, and communities, we must be willing students in God’s school of humiliation. Without humility, there is no fellowship with God and without fellowship with God, we cannot know the love and power of God; and without the love and power of God, we cannot live for God, and if we cannot live for God, we cannot influence our generation for God. So, the road called “humility” will be traveled by all of God’s children. And despite the specific ways He may work this necessary virtue in us, there is one way which is “one size fits all.” It is found in today’s scripture. It is the Lord giving us an up-close look at our hearts. Go back up and read what Jesus says about the human heart; not the heart of another person, but yours and mine.
To really drive home how humility emerges when we see our hearts for what they really are, think about this scenario. Imagine next Sunday morning in our churches, every single person, individually, to include us, is going to be required to stand in front of the church and face the people. Behind us will be a huge screen. At our appointed time, we will walk up front and for all to see, have played on the screen every thought and desire that has been in our hearts the past seven days. How are we feeling about now? Personally, I think I am going to be ill on that Sunday morning. But as humiliating as that would be, such an exposure is already happening . . . all the time. Before God. He already knows what is in our hearts and now, get ready to be overwhelmed in a good way. He still loves us. He still owns us. He still is not ashamed of us.
Friends, the omniscience (all-knowing attribute) and omnipresence (all-present attribute) of God are extremely humbling but also encouraging to the child of God who is not living in known and willful sin. God gives grace to the humble. He doesn’t crush the exposed. He uplifts the exposed. As God enrolls us in His school of humiliation by showing us our hearts, don’t be afraid or worse, try to hide. As painful as it might be, it is for our good and usefulness in His kingdom work on earth.
PRAYER: “Father, I praise You for Your amazing grace that knows me, yet still loves me.”
QUOTE: “If we really want to know our need for grace, just let the Bible show us our hearts”