Humility and Love

Lamentations 3:22-23 says, The steadfast love of the LORD (Jehovah) never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.

In the four Gospels we read the accounts of the life and death of Jesus (Jehovah incarnate). There is an infinite volume of truth about Jesus’ life, His birth, His death, His purpose(s), His words, His miracles, His righteousness, His divinity, His judgments, His sorrows, His joy, etc., which we will not fully comprehend in this life.

In John 10:10 He said, “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” That one verse is loaded with enough scriptural and SPIRITUAL truth for at least 5 sermons!

He is speaking about His sheep. In verse 3 Jesus says, “He calls His own sheep by name and leads them out.” (see Gen. 28:9). So who is “they” which Jesus refers to in that verse? Most would say - BELIEVERS. But it is the Jews! The faithful Jews, the true Israel.

Now, there would be considerable argument if I were to leave it at that. But Jesus makes distinctions which we would be wise to notice.

In verse 16 He says, “And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will (also) hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd.”

Jesus speaks of “they” and “them.” It is critical, in my opinion, that we discern the meanings and references of pronouns in scripture. The first “they” refers to His own people, the Jews. But then He distinctly says He has or will have, other sheep which He must bring into the fold... Gentiles!

In the first half of chapter 10, Jesus asserts His role and title as “The Good Shepherd” of His sheep. In the second half, He asserts His deity. John 10:30 , “I and the Father are one.” The word “are” there is another form of the verb “to be” which could be understood to mean, I AM.

Some look AT the Gospels for what many have facetiously and scornfully categorized as “What would Jesus do?” I, and hopefully all of us, look TO the Gospels for “What DID Jesus do?” Here again, the answers to that question would fill many sermons.

But I would like for us to worshipfully think about His example of Humility and Love.

In John 13 we read about Jesus washing the feet of the disciples... even Judas’s feet. Verse 15 says, “I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.” What would Jesus do? 

He would wash His enemy’s feet if they were dirty.

Humility would constrain me to regard myself as less than you. In Eph. 3:8 Paul said, Though I am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ.

Was Paul “less than the least” of all the saints? Of course not. I can vouch that he was better than me. This is an expression of his humility. Every other “saint” was more important to him than himself... because he loved them so much. Romans 16 is probably the most extensive, most intimate, and most specific expression of Paul’s personal love for the saints.

Jesus’ example was and is LOVE and He manifested LOVE in everything He did. He not only demonstrated it, but He PROVED it! By “prove” I mean its "effectuality." And by that, I mean “power to be effective.”

Paul wrote in 1 Cor. 13:2-8, Though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.

If I could personify the rest of verses 4-8, I would say... I am patient, I am kind, I am not envious. I do not boast; I am not arrogant. I am not rude, I am not self-serving, I am not easily angered or resentful. I am not glad about injustice, but I rejoice in the truth. I bear all things, I believe all things, I hope in all things, I endure all things. My Love never ends.

The “I am’s” in that passage should give us a clue that it is speaking of the Lord Jesus. Love does not esteem itself. Love prefers the needs of others. We as believers are comforted by this LOVE. "And this is not a Sunday only Love, but a week-day lifestyle!" ~ said one J.R. Miller

I had this love and humility demonstrated to me and Ruth this past Wednesday morning before we even got out of our pajamas. And I will name names. Rob, our dear brother and shepherd, came to our house and demonstrated to me a love and humility that humbled me beyond anything I had ever known before. Did you know humility is transferable? At least temporarily. And although not physically present, I know Rob brought Gary, Marie, Dave (George), Rick, Sondra, Carol, and I believe the rest of you were all there too. I won’t get into details. I think most of you know why Rob was there.

A great many people seem to think Christianity and the Christian life is for Sundays only. But it came to my house Wednesday morning.

In a true Christian, the beliefs in the heart manifest themselves in the conduct of the character. "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and self-control." Gal. 5:22-23. These are the things that demonstrate one to be a Christian. We are saved of God by Jesus the Christ, but we are Christians only so far as Christ living in us, is demonstrated in a Christ-like life.

Our Father in heaven, Your work in the elect is far more than anything even we might expect from You, because in the flesh we realize our weakness, even though Your word is full of encouragement and exhortation to grow to full maturity in Christ. It is only by Your Holy Spirit that we are sanctified and made holy. Holiness is in the character of Christ, in which love is perfected. Lord may we be ever more like Your beloved Son Jesus, in whose name I pray, Amen.