Sisters and Brothers,
As we begin the journey of Lent, you will have an opportunity to reflect on a Scripture and on a Hymn that ties us back to this holy season of reflection and redirection.
Our Scripture today is Psalm 25: 1-11 NIV
1 In you, Lord my God,
I put my trust.
2 I trust in you;
do not let me be put to shame,
nor let my enemies triumph over me.
3 No one who hopes in you
will ever be put to shame,
but shame will come on those
who are treacherous without cause.
4 Show me your ways, Lord,
teach me your paths.
5 Guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my Savior,
and my hope is in you all day long.
6 Remember, Lord, your great mercy and love,
for they are from of old.
7 Do not remember the sins of my youth
and my rebellious ways;
according to your love remember me,
for you, Lord, are good.
8 Good and upright is the Lord;
therefore he instructs sinners in his ways.
9 He guides the humble in what is right
and teaches them his way.
10 All the ways of the Lord are loving and faithful
toward those who keep the demands of his covenant.
11 For the sake of your name, Lord,
forgive my iniquity, though it is great.
Now read it again in another translation. After reading it twice, what word or phrase stands out to you? What word or image gives you hope? What phrase causes you discomfort?
For me, I have been chewing on this idea of humility. Last week, a leader in our church asked us a deep question. He asked, can a leader be humble and successful? And I have been thinking about that ever since. I feel how you answer that in part is how you define success. And humility always points me back to Jesus. Verse 9 says, “He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way.” In order to be humble, you have to adjust your perspective in how you see yourself and how you see the world. If you come before God with the heart posture to learn and to obey, God is honored in that humility and imparts wisdom and clarity. One of the hymns I return to time and time again in my own worship and reflection time is “Be Thou My Vision.” I am choosing today to focus on the words of verse four which speak to me about humility.
“Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise;
Thou mine inheritance, now and always.
Thou and thou only, first in my heart,
High King of Heaven, my treasure thou art.”
As we begin this Lenten Journey together, may we have the heart posture of humility and may God be the treasure we seek first. The world needs more leaders that are humble and have their eyes fixed on Jesus.
AMEN