Ezra 4:4-6 English Standard Version

⁴ Then the people of the land discouraged the people of Judah and made them afraid to build ⁵ and bribed counselors against them to frustrate their purpose, all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia.

⁶ And in the reign of Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his reign, they wrote an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem.

This is not a political commentary.

Seeing those who frustrate us in those things we attempt to do is merely awareness. It is our emotional response in not seeing our own will being done.

Action in the face of frustration does not serve God’s will. It is a sign that we have lost trust in God’s plan.

At the root of our frustration is fear of our accusers. If we truly fear God as He asks, then we must trust that when the time is right God’s will is going to appear among the faithful.

All we can do in this emotional state of frustration is to keep doing what we know God has called us to do. Serve Him, serve His people. Love him, love each other.

Carry out the last commandment we absolutely know came from God and continue in obedience of faith until we receive new orders.

No one became a leader in God’s will that believed in himself rather than trusting God. We have the history of that in the prophets that shows us that truth.

If we are to be called to act in accordance with God’s will, it will not come from the emotions of frustration. It will come from the reverence we have for His Word which speaks to us from a place deeper than emotions.

We just need to trust Him.

Proverbs 15:33 English Standard Version (ESV) The fear of the Lord is instruction in wisdom, and humility comes before honor.

It seems appropriate to speak about humility after yesterday’s word on glory.

Think about the one person that best represents humility.

Now remember what it is about this person that reminds us of humility.

The obvious is easy. They do not talk about themselves and their accomplishments.

What is special about their speech?

Do they seem to be able to use wisdom effectively?

Do they find a way to help without making us feel judged?

Do they offer alternatives without making us feel stupid?

Does their speech contain effortless grace?

Are they someone who is heard without seeking attention?

Are others drawn to that person in gatherings?

Do we wish to be more like that person?

Can we see Christ is glorified in them because they are humble?

Can we catch just a glimpse of the Jesus we want to know?

Then perhaps that person became humble because they understood that the fear of the Lord is reverence for His Word. That led to wisdom and the correct application of wisdom led to humility.

We cannot be humble just because we know it is the right thing to do. It is a personal characteristic that is build one line at a time and one precept at a time.

There is not express lane to humility.