Do we even fully grasp the significance of a God who is willing to meet us where we are and love us? We are so frail, so broken; from the least to the greatest, we are as dust. The sad reality of our humanity is that even those who loved God with as much as they could, struggled with remembering their humble place. Provision, love, faithfulness, mercy… God has never lacked in any one. His very essence is love, and His character has no flaws. Why do we seek for lesser things? Why do we allow ourselves to wander when God is all we need as our daily bread, and our fullness of life?

Some Bible versions say honor, other translations say respect, but the underlining meaning holds the same, it is intended to place value on another human being. People we naturally respect may range from God to a family member, perhaps someone in an authority position. I admire when people show respect to others because it is just as much an earned privilege as it is a choice from the one extending this gracious offer. I feel there are those who earned respect due to noteworthy characteristics and then there are those times we show respect to another because it is the honorable thing to do, whether they deserve respect or not.

Humility has been a prayer of my heart for quite some time. My head knowledge knows that Christ is the only one deserving of praise, yet my heart tries to convince myself that I deserve some of it. This false humility leaves a distaste in my mouth because the very virtue of humility is so pure and genuine. Is anyone in the same boat? How does God say that we can acquire this much desired trait?

Pride is a venomous poison that seeps into the lives of even the mightiest of men. It claims self-sufficiency and independence as a focal point for one’s accomplishments. I struggle with this form of pride. Who wants to be dependent on anyone or anything? Yet God is desiring a humble spirit, to realize that we can’t live this life in our own strength. Even when we don’t give praise and honor to God, He is still where the strength is coming from.

Matthew 18:1-4 tells us to become like a child, but what does this mean? Are we to physically transform into a child? No, that would be impossible. What is God telling us here? What are the attributes in a child that God is looking for?