"Knowing God without knowing our own wretchedness makes for pride. Knowing our own wretchedness without knowing God makes for despair. Knowing Jesus Christ strikes the balance because he shows us both God and our own wretchedness."-Blaise Pascal
That, my friends, is the very definition of humility before our Lord. To adore God is to think about His character.
I'm writing this post because a few of you have asked me if I am feeling bad about myself or if I have a self-esteem problem because the subject of most of my recent posts has focused on my depravity. No worries. I may, from time to time, agonize over my sins more than I should. But God always pulls me through it. Granted, going to a point of self-loathing is certainly not good, I believe it is necessary and spiritually healthy to be mortified over our sin. And in spite of what Dr. Spock and pop psychologists say, I truly don't feel the need to have a high self-esteem. I believe that "high self-esteem" can actually be a barrier spiritual maturity. God's grace is sufficient (2 Corinthians 12:9) and replaces the need for self-esteem.
For the longest time, I had great difficulty understanding how to "adore" God. I mean, it's really impossible for my finite mind to comprehend His infiniteness. But I've learned that adoration comes from regular submission, confession, repentance and studying His word. I don't mean for this to sound formulaic, so please don't take it as such. But when I come before God broken, in realization of my sinful nature, submitting to His authority, confessing my sin, repenting (to turn away from) of my sin and receive the grace already given, humility is a natural outgrowth. And from humility, I'm given the softened heart to adore my Adonai. Just typing this makes my eyes well up with tears.
I certainly don't claim to as humble as God would like me to be. I struggle with pride all the time. But I've found that a pious pride will lead to a spiritual drought and the only oasis is in the scriptures. The scriptures are replete with descriptions of God. We can't just meditate on Him and pray to Him and expect true revelation on His character - we have to read what He tells us about Himself in His word. Below are just a few passages that can help us adore Him in humility. Would you join me in drinking Him in today?
"To whom then will you compare me,
that I should be like him?", says the Holy One.
Lift up your eyes on high and see: who created these?
He who brings out their host by number,
calling them all by name,
by the greatness of his might,
and because he is strong in power
not one is missing. Have you not known? Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He does not faint or grow weary;
his understanding is unsearchable. (Isaiah 40: 25-26,28)
For you formed my inward parts;
you knitted me together in my mother's womb.
I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are your works;
my soul knows it very well.
My frame was not hidden from you,
when I was being made in secret,
intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes saw my unformed substance;
in your book were written, every one of them,
the days that were formed for me,
when as yet there was none of them. (Psalm 139:13-16)
My soul magnifies the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.
For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
for he who is mighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
And his mercy is for those who fear him
from generation to generation.
He has shown strength with his arm;
he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts;
he has brought down the mighty from their thrones
and exalted those of humble estate;
he has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy,
as he spoke to our fathers,
to Abraham and to his offspring forever. (Luke 1:46-55)
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. (John 1:1-5)
God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all. (1 John 1:5)
...yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist. (1 Corinthians 8:6)
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