Read: Deuteronomy 15:12-18; Galatians 4:1-7; Psalm 40:6-8 

Think: When reading in the Old Testament, I was always a little confused when I saw mention of slaves in the Israelite culture. Why would God allow slavery after the Israelite's experience in Egypt? But in the book of Deuteronomy, the Lord makes incredible provision for slaves. After seven years of service, a slave’s master was to give him the option of leaving. If he decided to leave, the master was to furnish him “liberally” from his own belongings so that the former slave would be provided for as a free man.

But I was further struck by these verses: “It shall come about if he says to you, ‘I will not go out from you,’ because he loves you and your household, since he fares well with you; then you shall take an awl and pierce it through his ear into the door, and he shall be your servant forever” (Deuteronomy 15:16-17).

We are much like the slaves, given the choice to serve God freely. God is pictured here as the humble master who will not demand our service, but invite us into His household. But I also love the picture I see here of the perfect work that humility produces. Our faithful service to God doesn’t merely result in the provision of our needs, but something much greater. “But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son…so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons… therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God.” (Galatians 4:4-7).

Do: Consider how a parent teaches a child to serve, not just giving them tasks to do perform, but to learn under  the direct guidance of the parent. At once, an opportunity to learn becomes an opportunity to build relationship. Think of a time that you chose to serve someone in need and in what ways you grew closer to the Lord because of it. 

Daily Devotional: Thursday, July 1

(Phil 2:3), and that my job description is also about offering my gifts to Him so that others might see His mission and His goals, which is to love them and give them a purpose for their lives. It is at that point that my job is no longer a job, but a life lived in delightful devotion through God’s grace that empowers me to do His work.

Do: Think about whatever you do for a living, considering that, whether or not it’s what you’ve intended for this time of your life, that the Lord has special plans and purposes for what He wants to do in and through you. Think about your coworkers and the daily tasks that you perform. Ask the Lord to show you how to present yourself in humble service to the blessing of those people and the fullness of integrity in your work.

Lord, I know that You have given me amazing gifts and talents that are to be used to bless others and serve them. Show me the great love You have for the people around me so that, in freely offering back to You all the good and perfect gifts You given to me, I might demonstrate to others the love that You have for them. 

Daily Devotional: Wednesday, June 30

Praise Jesus that He does not force himself on us but is a humble gentleman! Paul (the Apostle) tells us that Jesus set His divinity aside and became obedient to the point of death (par. Phil. 2:7-8). And why? All to win us, His beloved bride, so that He might woo us to His love, making a way for covenant relationship by our redemption from sin. Paul (our pastor this time) encouraged us to look at Jesus as our example of humility, reminding us of Ephesians 5:25-27,

“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless.”

The expression of Jesus’ humility showed us the lengths He will go to draw us closer to Himself, not to demand our love forcibly, but to invite us into His love. But His humility also made a way for us to draw near to Him. His invitation enables us to come with confidence so that we might lay down our lives and serve Him out of thanksgiving and love.

Daily Devotional: Tuesday, June 29

I’ve noticed that a lack of humility in my life allows pride to form in a similar way to this morning’s clouds, stuffy and hazy, blocking both other’s and my ability to see God’s miraculous work and lordship in my life.

One of the ways Pastor Paul suggested we can understand what true humility means is by recognizing that we aren't the savior. As God restores the right perspective of who He is as savior and as Lord, I'm left in awe of His beauty and majesty. In Psalm 29:3 and 5, I read how "The voice of the Lord is upon the waters; the God of glory thunders, the Lord is over many waters…the voice of the Lord breaks the cedars; Yes, the Lord breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon," and I tremble.

I imagine the clouds this morning dissipated because of a similar overpowering by the brilliance and grandeur of the sun. But even the power and might of the sun is manifested in its glory, its loveliness, and its transformative nature that causes things to grow; just by being in its presence, we absorb precious vitamins and nutrients. Similarly, our great and mighty God is good and “…will bless His people with peace.” (Psalm 29:11). 

In gazing upon the beauty of the Lord, in all of His goodness and grace, I realize that walking in humility is much easier than I thought, as I want others to gaze upon His loveliness and not my own hazy attempts at greatness.

Daily Devotional: Monday, June 28

 But what I love even more than James and John's eagerness is Jesus' response. He could have humiliated them in front of their peers, berating them like an angry football coach for their arrogance. Instead Jesus graciously addresses James and John by refocusing their perspective to the cost they will need to pay and the attitude they should have.

I think I’m often worried that humility is supposed to look meek and self-effacing, and so I speak in false humility that belittles who I am and what I've done so I can avoid humiliation. I can think of many times when, after receiving a compliment, I poked my finger up at the ceiling with a shrug, and fumbled out some words about, "Well, it wasn't me, it was the Lord," and not really meaning it, just so I could avoid looking prideful.

 But God has placed a great calling on all of our lives all so that He will be glorified. Pastor Paul encouraged us to redefine our sense of "greatness" by bringing it in line with the attitude that Jesus had, He who lived solely out of the resource of the Father's love in order to serve the world, all so He could bring glory to the Father.  His humility came from acting out of who He was and what He was called to do, but knowing that apart from the Father, He could do nothing.