My brother has not received his wings yet. He, along with family, are waiting patiently on God. In this waiting, my brother is fine. Jesus is with Him. Any toiling in this life has now come to end for Dan. He simply must wait for His Lord to come for him. For the rest of us, the waiting is much harder. It’s a humbling time. Patiently we wait. Patiently, we wait on God.
God likes to make us wait, doesn’t He? I believe He gives purpose in the waiting. Our hearts need a constant influx of humility, and what better way for God to get our attention is to remind us that He is in control and we are not. Death brings this to the surface most readily.
What does God’s Word say about this virtue that halts our faith when we forgo it?
In Micah 6:6-8 we learn about Gods requirements for His children. “What can we bring to the Lord? What kind of offerings should we give Him? Should we bow before God with offerings of yearly calves? Should we offer Him thousands of rams and ten thousand rivers of olive oil? Should we sacrifice our firstborn children to pay for our sins? No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what He requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.“
This should encourage you. It’s not about what we can give back to God. It’s about our response to what He has already done for us. Jesus became the ultimate offering, the eternal sacrifice that erases away all sin. We simply believe and receive Him. From that point on, we walk humbly in the ways of the Lord by the Holy Spirit’s power.
My, oh my, what a gracious Father we have! He takes on the burdens that life throws at us.
God continues in the book of Colossians with more freeing requirements that He deems necessary for His humbled children. Colossians 3:12-17 says, “Since God chose you to be the holy people He loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. and let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace, and always be thankful. Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom He gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. Whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.”
God places within each of us the same love that is in His Son. All we have to do is act upon this love.
God also tells us why humility is essential for Kingdom living in the book of James. James 4:6-10 says, “God gives us even more grace to stand against such evil desires. As the scriptures say, ‘God opposes the proud but favors the humble.’ So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and He will flee from you. Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world. Let there be tears for what you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up in honor.”
God will talk straight with us. Sin leads to love affairs in this world. Humility brings us back to God. Humility breaks open the lies that we have chosen to believe and in this humble brokenness we find love, grace and mercy. He restores us once again.
So, as God makes you wait, know there is purpose in the lessons to be had. Look to God and see what He wants you to learn. Remember, He is preparing you for your eternal home.
Carol J German 