Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. (1 Peter 5:6)
A Christian psychologist had a client in a nursing facility who wouldn’t stop screaming and moaning. The only words she seemed to be able to say were, “Don’t hit me!” Her constant noise unnerved other residents and wore on the staff. They finally called the psychologist who came to visit her. In her room, he knelt down in front of her wheelchair and took her hands in his. He didn’t speak, though she continued to yell. He just held her hands and gently rubbed them.
After a few moments, she quieted down and leaned forward, resting her head on his shoulder. For the first time in days, she said something new: “Is this okay?” “Of course,” he replied. The two remained there, in that position, for several minutes. Before he stood up to leave, the psychologist told the woman, “You are not alone.” She smiled and released his hands.
This act of humility won’t ever be “big news.” However, God saw the loving-kindness this man showed to “one of the least of these,” and as a result God lifted him up in ways that are important to God, that developed the likeness of Jesus in him and strengthened his integrity and character. That’s what humility does: It changes our focus from wanting to be important in the eyes of others to wanting to please God in all we do.
Humbly serve others, and trust God to meet your needs.
This devotional was taken from the Wesleyan Publishing House curriculum archives.
© 2022 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.
