Have we not looked at the stars to realize our smallness? Have we not stared at the ocean, contemplating our powerlessness? Yet, a hundred times more, when we stare at the picture of Calvary, our life issues all begin to fade, the want of heaven and eternal glorification grow, and the marvelous nature of our triune God glows in fullest color.

His Humility Will Protect Us

For those of us who serve in a leadership capacity, the world demands that we show strength. Who among us, in the flesh, has not been lured by more power? A larger church building? An organizational structure without checks and balances?

Deeper still, which among us has not been tempted to think that “he” is the reason for a church’s effectiveness? Business success? Money saved? Children well raised? How quickly our hearts turn from the truth as we erode into self-sufficiency.

Of course, erosion requires zero effort. Unless one builds a dam, erosion occurs. If one does not plant grass, the rains make mud. Likewise, if even a day goes by without knees bent in prayer and chins up in praise, the sand of the soul will be slightly more polished by the world, flesh, and devil.

Do we remember the reason Peter fell into denial? The Lord had warned Peter and the other disciples about their weakness, saying, “You will all fall away because of me…” We may have expected all the disciples to immediately fall to their knees, crying out for help from the Lord. However, like we often do, Peter spoke confidently, saying, “I will never fall away!” Peter’s self-dependence was corrosive to his faith, leading him towards his downfall into denial.

Andrew Murray’s words ring in our ears, “Pride must die in you, or nothing of heaven can live in you.”³ If even a moment goes by where we think, “I am strong!” or “I am valuable,” we have moved away from safety and far from God’s maximum blessing or strengthening power, assuming we know our hearts better than God and incurring alongside Peter, the Lord’s stern rebuke, “Get behind me, Satan!”

The answer? All wisdom of faith is found in the cross of Christ (2Ti 3:15). It is the cross of Christ that informs us against such a momentous fall, reminding us of our initial dependence, as God chose to breathe life into dead men and redeem us from the slave-trading block of sin.

As we contemplate such grace, all we hold dear dies, and an exchange takes place; we exchange our reputation for His glory, our expectations for the joy of His ministry, and our human gain for the glory of His perfect plan. The old Puritan Thomas Hooker offers,

Read More