DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- EATING HUMBLE PIE

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – EATING HUMBLE PIE

" 'Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.' "  (Matthew 18:4)

When we were considering Jesus' teachings in the Sermon on the Mount, we discovered that the gateway into heaven is narrow (Matthew 7:14). It is not wide.  There is only one way and that is through the Lord Jesus.  

In today's scripture, we find that the gate is not only narrow.  It is not very high.  One has to humble himself and bow low in order to enter the kingdom of heaven.  That is not easy for many of us.  Because of our pride, we don't like to confess that we are sinners and need a Savior.  But there is no true repentance without being humble enough to admit that we have failed.

Psalm 51 is a good place to begin.  Here was King David – the ruler of the nation of Israel.  He had blown it in a big way.  He had initiated adultery with the beautiful Bathsheba, and then murdered Bathsheba's husband in his attempt to cover up his adultery.  As king, he had all the prestige and power to do whatever he wanted.  He didn't have to answer to anyone – except God.

 In Psalm 51, we find his abject humility before God.  Listen to his words.  "Have mercy upon me, O God…for I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.  Against You, You only, have I sinned, and done this evil in Your sight … Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow…Hide Your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities.  Create in me a clean heart, O God. … Do not cast me away from Your presence … The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart – These, O God, You will not despise."

King David had to eat a lot of humble pie to make this confession.  And prideful as I am, it takes a lot of humility for me to confess my sins.  But we have the assurance that God is faithful and just to forgive our sins and cleanse us when we bow before Him in contrition and confess our failure to live up to His standard (I John 1:9). We will never be small enough to go through the gate until we get on our knees.   Praise Him for His grace.   

Love, Dad