Called To Humility

Speaker: Archbishop Loren Thomas Hines

February 17, 2021

in Spritual Growth

No Comments

932

Ash Wednesday
Archbishop Loren Thomas Hines
February 17, 2021

Readings: Isaiah 58: 1-12
2 Corinthians 5: 20B- 6:10
Matthew 6: 1-6; 16-21

Ash Wednesday reminds us that we came from the dust of the ground. We cannot say we have been born with a silver spoon. We came from dust and was given life by the very Breath of God Himself. All our achievements are because of the breath of God. By Him, for Him and through Him. It is like what earthly parents have done for their children to give them the best, and children should be thankful.

Ash Wednesday reminds us to be humble and thankful. Humility is the recognition of a daily need and relationship with God. Humility is prayer and spending time with Him. When man ate of the fruit of the garden, the result was that he now wanted to do his own thing. Ash Wednesday calls us to attention about what Christ did to redeem us from that fall. If He did not go to the cross, where would we be today?

A humans, we like to blame shift when things go wrong. We blame others for our mishap. But in reality, God wants us to be humble and help those in need.

Luke 12: 1-3 In the meantime, when so many thousands of the people had gathered together that they were trampling one another. He began to say to His disciples first, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. Therefore, whatever you have said in the dark shall be heard in the light, and whatever you have whispered in private rooms shall be proclaimed on the housetops.

Much like our politicians today, they tell us not to do this and not to do that, and yet they are the first offenders. Isn’t this hypocrisy? God is not a politician. He restores. He rebuilds. And He shows us the way of humility – that, it is a service to others and not exalting one’s self. God is with us should tell us that we are to be dependent upon Him. We are saved from the darkness and from the power of evil so we should accept this redemption and should give Him the glory by living out the life He gave us.

We demand so much but are we willing to fast? Take the example of food, we have to be humble enough to eat things we may not like but are healthy and important for us. Jesus was tempted in the wilderness for 40 days without food and water, but He did not succumb to the wiles of the devil. We should take care of our body and take care of what we have. We should not demand much or boast and brag about things we have. 2 Corinthians 6:4 Rather, as servants of God we command ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses.

We need to know what God says and believe in it, giving Him all the praise and glory because what He has promised, He will do. Ash Wednesday is not being put down but being lifted up by God in humility. Ash Wednesday is accepting what He has given us and walking in humility.