Desiring a Heart After that of Jesus

Having been born in western Massachusetts in 1953, and being raised there in my early years, I have followed sports teams from my birth state my whole life. I am especially a fan of the Red Sox and the Celtics. Perhaps you noticed (ahem) that the Celtics won the NBA title this past week. The after the game interviews pleasantly surprised me. When the two main stars of the Celtics were questioned about their win, each one first praised God, and then they each gave credit to others on their team. I like it when someone does not act in pride and say, “Look at me.” I appreciate when people work as a team, and everyone is important. You see, I was taught that pride is a sin, and that humility is a virtue.

If you have been reading with us in the Today’s Light Devotional Bible, the recent readings have been exciting. On Monday, June 17, we learned in 1 Samuel 16 about the prophet Samuel secretly anointing David to follow Saul as king. Samuel, however, was ready to choose David’s older, stronger, and more handsome brothers as king. Yet listen to what the Lord revealed to Samuel about whom He had chosen. "Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart." (1 Samuel 16:7) God had chosen David, the youngest of the family. The process of choosing David teaches us about our Lord, and about His desires for our life. Our Lord looks at the heart! Do you wonder what God saw in David’s heart?

Then, on Tuesday, June 18, the assigned reading was from 1 Samuel 17, the account of David and Goliath. In these readings we get a view of the heart which the Lord chose. The Bible describes Goliath as 9 feet tall, and as a fierce warrior. The Israelite army was terrified. Yet, even though Goliath towered over David, and was the more experienced warrior, David trusted the Lord for the coming battle. Listen. 45 “Then David said to the Philistine, ‘’You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand,’” (1 Samuel 17:45-46 a) David did not trust his own strength, or blow his own horn. David did not act in pride or arrogance. In humility, in faith, David engaged the giant by diminishing himself, and trusting the Lord for the battle. I think you know the results.

Humility is actually honesty. The truth is that we all have our weaknesses. Our lives are full of failures, and full of our sin. To boast is to ignore those weaknesses. When we admit our weaknesses, we humbly speak the truth. God saves us from our sin for eternal life in heaven by His grace, through faith or trust in our Savior. “8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” (Ephesian 2:8-9) Saving faith is the opposite of pride. Faith trusts someone else. Faith trusts God’s love in Jesus, not ourselves, not our own good works. This humility of heart receives God’s grace through His Son.

We see the best example of humility in Jesus, and the life of Jesus calls us to also live humble lives. “5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” (Philippians 2:5-8) The truth of this word of God still amazes me. Jesus is God Himself! Yet He laid down His divinity to take on humanity. The Lord of all took on the call to obedience. The Lord of life suffered and died to love and save us. Jesus gave up the trappings of glory, to live godly glory through sacrifice and service. And we are told, “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus.”

Admitting our failures and weaknesses, and giving glory to God, is simply honesty. However, being humble is not the norm in our world. Therefore, when we see humility that can be refreshing. “For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart." That is why I was thankful for the example on Monday night from the athletes. They gave praise to God, and did not take glory for themselves. I pray the Spirit works such honest humility and faith in my heart.