Tag Archives: humble

The Unknown Father – 1

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I enjoy southern gospel music.  I remember hearing a local group doing their rendition of the song, “I Know A Man Who Can”.  I was so moved by this song.  I began to research to find it.  When I did I found that some big named groups had performed it too.  Here is the group Greater Vision singing the song.

As I pondered the truth on the song I was taken to the Word of God.  I began to dig around and I found Mark 9:17, “And one of the multitude answered and said, Master, I have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit;”

Here we have a father who took his son to Jesus’ disciples for healing from a “demon”.  We believe today that this demon was causing the boy seizures.  In the Word of God is recorded many things about this man.  The one thing that is not recorded is his name.  Thus the title, “The Unknown Father”.

So many people just simply go on doing what they have to do without any accolades.  While others have a deep seated need to the applause of people.  Over the next few days I want to share with you some of the attributes of “The Unknown Father”.  I think we can all benefit from them.

So, how are you doing?

No Biggie

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A little boy wrote in a class assignment in a Christian school, “When the wise guys from the east side arrived they found Jesus and the manager.”  I thought about this as I was contemplating all the Christmas parties different people are having.  Mind you, my invitations must have been lost in the mail.

We spend countless hour and even dollars in an attempt to make everything perfect.  I don’t know about you; but, I have never hosted “the perfect party” and I have never attended one either.  So, why go to all of the pain and agony?  We want to impress our friends and family.  Plain and simple.  We want them to have an enjoyable time and deep down inside we want our party to be the talk of the town in a good way.

This seems to me to be quite a contrast to our LORD.  The King of kings and LORD of lords humbled Himself and became like us.  He was in human flesh as He lived and walked on earth.

In stark contrast, His entrance into this world was humble and not the event of the year.  It was truly the event of all time and eternity, truthfully.  Look at Luke’s description in the book named for him in Luke 2:12, “And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.”  There was no fanfare.  This was His humble beginning as He was living life in obedience to His Father.  He was moving toward the cross.

So, how are you doing?

Although

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On Monday this week I had the amazing opportunity of spending the morning with some dear people to me.  I went to Lighthouse Baptist Church in Dennison, IL for a Pastor’s breakfast.  That Church is one of a hand full of Churches that are very dear to my heart.  The breakfast was wonderful.  Spending time with the Pastors and Christian workers that attended was deeply valuable to me (and others I am sure).  Pastor Phil Price and the dear people of the Church did a great job making us all welcomed and full.

My dear friend Dr. Larry Lilly was asked to give a charge from the Scriptures.  Once again God used this man to minister right to the heart of all who attended.  His text was Habakkuk 3:17-19.  I was so moved by his message that I could not even make my pen scribe notes on paper as I listened.  So, I cannot recreate what I heard; but, I can share some thing with you that came to my mind as I read again this passage.

Habakkuk 3:17-19, “Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls:  Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.  The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds’ feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. To the chief singer on my stringed instruments.”

The first thing I see is the ruin.  We are told about the fig tree will not blossom, the vine will have no fruit, the olive will fail and the fields will not yield.  This spells total ruin to me.  When I look at this from the standpoint of a farmer it is total ruin.  What will we eat?  What will we drink?  How shall we live?  Maybe these are questions that you posit on a daily basis.

Then I see the response.  The writer is giving us a look into the heart of someone that is deeply courageous.  This person is deeply committed.  Did you see that?  Look again, “I will joy in the God of my salvation.”  What a response.  There is no pity party here friend.  There is only simple worship directed to The One who gives us breath and life.  Joy is based upon your relationship with Jesus Christ.  Happiness is based upon your circumstances.

Thirdly I see the reality.  The writer says, “The LORD God is my strength…”  Our biggest problem is that we try to figure out our problems.  We try to fashion a plan to get out of our problems.  Then we end up fighting against God’s will for our lives.  We need to quit trying to orchestrate the end of our problems.  We need to rest in the reality that God is our strength.  Read the Psalms and see how they minister to you in your hour of darkness.

No matter the ruin in your life you can have a godly response when you realize the reality of Who is really in control.

So, how are you doing?

Stinking Feet

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In John chapter 12 Jesus identifies Himself to His disciples again as God the Son.  He has walked with them, talked with them and loved them supremely.  Sadly, one would still betray Him.  We know by the eye of faith that Jesus is the Sinless Son of God.  There is no disputing that fact.

Then in John 13 Jesus suddenly gets up from dinner and does what nobody in the room expects.  Jesus, the Son of God, puts on a towel and begins to wash the disciples feet.  I don’t know about you; but, I do not like feet.  They are dirty, nasty and smelly.  Yet, God in the flesh took a towel and a basin of water and began to wash all of the disciples feet.  Yes, even Judas who would soon betray Him.

This really struck home for me today.  Maybe for you it means nothing.  It means a lot to me.  Jesus was the epitome of being a servant.  He showed these men by example how to serve one another.

What does this mean to me?  Look at John 13:12, “So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you?”  It shows me that humble service is possible.  It does not discriminate; but, simply goes on to serve.  God forgive me and help me to be the servant leader You have called me to be.

So, how are you doing?