June 09th, 2018

It is better to be humble than to seek out acceptance and gratitude. God does not need someone who is famous or boastful in their deeds. When we are well known for what we do for Him, we run the risk of seeking attention through works. Why seek attention for the task that we are given by God since He designed us to be caretakers. When we do works because of our faith we are putting our faith into action without the need for gratitude. If we try to gain popularity because of our works, those works are not due to faith but our own desire to be loved. James said that faith without works is dead but he did not say that we should accept mementoes or payments of gratitude for the works because our payment will be delivered when we meet our Lord and Savior at the gate.  
O the blessedness of the meek for they shall inherit the earth Matthew 5:5
Being Meek
The word meek is best translated as humble or lowly. Jesus is quoting Psalm 37:11, But the meek will inherit the land and delight themselves in abundant peace. He is telling us that it is better to lower ourselves in humility than to raise ourselves up. The reality is, no one is more important than another and we should be doing God’s Will in our lives on a daily basis without seeking accolades or fame.
This weekend the family volunteered at the KLOVE Fan Awards and the night before the awards we sat in on a songwriter session where we listened to popular Christian artists truly humble themselves in the sharing of their lives and how their lives turned into song through the Word. They did not ask for gratitude nor standing ovations, they did not desire to be raised up but kept it humble. Though many see them as famous they do not seek the accolades. They are sinners, people just like us but these were given the gift of song to spread the Word to the world.
Willful Surrender
The avoidance of seeking validation and managing ones appearance means that a person is aware of their inner poverty, or sinful condition, and are free to surrender themselves. This is a willing trust in God to take care of oneself. The person who willfully surrenders to God does not self- seek vengeance or vindication but restoration, their strength comes from the Lord as it says in Zechariah 4:6, Then he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts.
So Be Humble
When we have an active faith we are not in it for ourselves but in it to win others for God in the great battle for the souls of mankind against our Adversary. We accept the kindness but ask to keep it on the down low instead of announcing our faithful works to the world. We gain helpers through the telling of our works because of our faith but not by our own mouths. Do not try to be in control of others because the only actions and situations we can truly control are what God gives us to control which is ourselves. So do not be found to have self-assertiveness, or manipulative, deceptive, or violent aggressive behaviors for those are the opposite of meekness. Those that do are demanding acceptance and their own rights in this world and will not receive the blessed inheritance in the next world.
Be of good heart and pray daily placing your life in God’s hands where it belongs. Seek no accolades or payment for your works but humble thyself and God will provide. Share in your iniquity and the saving Grace and Mercy that comes only through faith, belief, and trust in Jesus which is granted freely by God for those who are in Christ. His is the power, and glory forever, AMEN