Man’s One Offering to God

¹Thus says the Lord “Heaven is my throne”, and the earth is my footstool; what is the house that you would build for me, and what is my place of rest? ²All these things my hand has made, and so all these things came to be,” declares the Lord. —Isaiah 66:1-2

Chest-thumping, jersey-flaunting, trash-talking, self-promoting athletes today sure have a way of calling attention to themselves. In this “me, my, mine” society, humility is on the unappealing side of servitude.  Lowliness and meekness stand in sharp contrast to the bluster and bravado rebellion of many of culture’s modern “role models.” It seems that it’s just not cool to be humble.

But God’s way is different. God shows what He thinks when we consider ourselves as more than we are.

God’s Sarcasm

Look at the first two verses in Isaiah 66. God says that heaven, all heaven, is His throne. A throne is not very big, you just sit on it. Yet, man looks to the magnitude of the heavens and complexity of the earth in sheer wonder. Have you ever stood at the rim of the Grand Canyon? Awesome. We are staggered by God’s handiwork. Do you hear the sarcastic tone God strikes when He asks what we are going to do for Him? Honestly, what could we ever build for Him? The answer is obvious: nothing. God is accentuating what He wants from His people. He does not need us to work for Him (Psalm 51:17).

Here is what He is saying: “What you think is so magnificent, I use for my feet and as a seat cushion.” God is not impressed with what impresses us. So what is He impressed with? What gift can we give Him?

God desires one gift from man: humble hearts.

God’s Affection

God’s affectionate gaze is fixed upon certain people. God uses three adjectives to describe His favorite type of person: humble, contrite, and one who trembles at His Word.

God has a choice affection for those that are humble (Isaiah 57:15). He resists the proud and to the humble gives greater grace (James 4:6). Blessed are the poor in spirit (Matt. 5:3). God Himself exalts the lowly (Luke 14:11).

Do you walk in humility, recognizing God’s mastery over your life?
Do you relish the thought of being a servant of all?
Do you walk in contrition, recognizing your complete undeservedness of any of God’s kindness?
Do you revere Scripture as the authoritative rule of your life?

Would your pastor, spouse, children, co-workers say that you are a humble person?

If you are convicted by the answers to any of those questions, do something about it. Ask God for forgiveness for thinking you are more than you are. Recognize who you are in Christ.

Journal:

• What is my plan to grow in the area of humility?
• Would those around me consider me humble?

Prayer: Father, I don’t understand why I keep making myself more than I am. You are the Maker of everything, I just get to enjoy it. Forgive me for that. Help me to see You in the right perspective. Show me areas of my life where I think more of myself than I should. Give me the courage to make these changes in my attitude. In Jesus’ name, Amen.