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Bow Low To Be Lifted High

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” – 1 Peter 5:6-7

How would you expect to get the highest positions?

Sarah had always been really good at soccer. Growing up, she had always been the best player on every team she was on. When she got older, she played in a travel tournament league and her team won the majority of the tournaments. On her high school team, she received the player of the year award her Freshman and Senior years.

Then she got to college. She was on a full-ride scholarship for soccer at Stanford University. As she stepped out onto the field she was ready to show her new team that they had the championship in the bag this year now that she was on the team and she wasn’t afraid to let them know that.

That’s not what happened.

Sarah had been a star forward in high school, but in her first practice, when they scrimmaged, she couldn’t get past the defense. The next practice was even worse. Her coach tried to get her to work on some skills, but she said she knew what she was doing. She was just having an off couple of practices. She sat on the bench the first few games because her play just wasn’t good enough.

After sitting out the third game, she went to talk to the coach she was going to quit. Her coach, however, had a different idea.

“Meet me on the field at 6am tomorrow.”

The next day, Sarah showed up at 6am. Her coach said to her,

“Alright, have you had enough? Are you ready, now, to stop being so cocky and start learning.”

From then on, Sarah started looking to her coach for instruction throughout the practices. She even asked some of the starting forwards to work with her to help her to get better.

By the end of the season, Sarah was playing in the games. By her Junior year, she was a starter. Her senior year, the team won the championship and she was awarded player of the year.

What happened to Sarah?

Once she humbled herself, her coach and her teammates lifted her up. She had to let go of the idea that she was so great and could do everything on her own. She had to turn to those who could help her.

Humble Yourself Before God
God tells us to humble ourselves before Him. He wants us to turn to Him, learn from Him, and let Him teach and lead us. Most importantly, God wants us to humble ourselves enough to confess our sin and admit we can’t save ourselves. When we do, He lifts us up. He lifts us all the way to heaven. He makes us children of God Almighty, heirs with Christ of eternal life with Him.

Amazing!

Heavenly Father,

Help me to be humble and teachable. I confess I am a sinner and am unable to save myself and unable to live according to Your ways by my own power. Forgive me. Teach me. Lead me. Lift me up by Your love and grace to be in Your presence and live with You for all eternity.

Amen.

 

In Christ’s Service,

Pastor Kurt