Hard questions arise when it comes to Christ’s crushing humility, and the contrasting heights and lengths to which pride leads us and pretends to feed us. Yet written in Isaiah 53 is the way around to humility as holy ground.
But it was the will of the Lord to crush Him, causing Him to suffer. Because He gives His life as a gift on the altar for sin, He will see His children. Isaiah 53:10 NLV
Yet the Eternal One planned to crush him all along, to bring him to grief, this innocent servant of God. When he puts his life in sin’s dark place, in the pit of wrongdoing, this servant of God will see his children and have his days prolonged. Isaiah 53:10 VOICE
Why did Jesus have to suffer? What is the point? Why would this innocent son embrace his Father’s plan that brought him so low, crushed and humbled in pain? Because that is where he was willing to go to meet us.
…you would be there to lead me, you would be there to help me. I could ask the darkness to hide me or the light around me to turn into night, but even darkness is not dark for you Psalm 139:10-13 GNT
God knew we would be deluded, tempted, and taunted by dazzling heights, crowning achievements, top-of-the-world views, lavish spreads, and pride’s puffed-up, fraudulent promises. And he knew where we would end up.
Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. Proverbs 16:18 NRSV
He feeds on ashes; a deluded mind has led him astray, and he cannot save himself or say, “Is not this thing in my right hand a fraud?” Isaiah 44:20 NRSVCE
Jesus acted to save us out of destruction and delusion, coming to meet us in lowliness with loving-kindness. Holy ground is a place on earth where God’s presence is found, making humility his holy ground.
Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners from their sin and I am the worst sinner. And yet God had loving-kindness for me. Jesus Christ used me to show how long He will wait for even the worst sinners. In that way, others will know they can have life that lasts forever also. 1 Timothy 1:15-16 NLV
Admittedly, sometimes He hastens our fall…
Thinking to yourself, ‘Nobody can get to me! Nobody can touch me!’ Think again. Even if, like an eagle, you hang out on a high cliff-face, Even if you build your nest in the stars, I’ll bring you down to earth.” God’s sure Word. Obadiah 3-4 The Message
And those who walk in pride he is able to humble. Daniel 4:37 NIV
…yet always with the flourishing intent:
You have not chosen me, but I have chosen you. I have appointed you to go and produce fruit that will last John 15:16 ISV
Prayer: Holy Lord, help me see that my pride deludes me, and secludes me from your nurturing, life-giving sustenance. Apart from you I will not be nourished; I may as well eat ashes! (Isaiah 44:20). Please exchange my haughty spirit for your Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22 – 23) and show me where I am consulting a hand-held source for the sustenance You intend to feed me (Isaiah 44:20). You will meet me in every humble place I have tumbled to, making humility your holy ground. Thank you, Lord, for producing in me fruit that will last (John 15:16).
The Holy Spirit produces a different kind of fruit: unconditional love, joy, peace, patience, kindheartedness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. You won’t find any law opposed to fruit like this. Galatians 5:22-23 The Voice
Grounded in God is a devotions series lingering in the facets of humility from Isaiah 53. Our Savior’s greatest gift to us came through His humiliation detailed in this earthy passage. Humiliation … humility… humus… hmmm… perhaps the garden is a unique host to God’s purposes in humility, already grounded in humus-filled soil. Let these one-a-week, Scripture compositions draw you to His Words for simple consideration, cultivating a special intimacy with the Lord through the Lenten season
Portions of this devotion are taken from, “Pride Promsies a Fall,” part of the Garden Tools section on Humility in God’s Word for Gardeners Bible, beginning on pages a-38 & a-39
Photo Credits: ©Shelley S. Cramm
ISV denotes Scripture quotations from The Holy Bible: International Standard Version. Release 2.0, Build 2015.02.09. Copyright © 1995-2014 by ISV Foundation. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. Used by permission of Davidson Press, LLC.
The Message denotes Scripture quotations taken from THE MESSAGE, copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress. All rights reserved. Represented by Tyndale House Publishers, a Division of Tyndale House Ministries.
NIV denotes Scripture quotations taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.®
NLT denotes Scripture quotations taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
NLV denotes Scripture quotations taken from the New Life Version, copyright © 1969 and 2003. Used by permission of Barbour Publishing, Inc., Uhrichsville, Ohio 44683. All rights reserved.
NRSV denotes Scripture quotations taken from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
NRSVCE denotes New Revised Standard Version Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright © 1989, 1993 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
VOICE denotes Scripture quotations taken from The Voice™. Copyright © 2012 by Ecclesia Bible Society. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
