“Jesus’ love laced words with everyday expressions and examples made Him extremely relatable.”
Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – March 2, 2022
And the common people heard Him gladly. Mark 12:37
I grew up in a small town. Outside of the city limits were forty-acre farms and bustling chicken houses. If common people are defined as most people who have similar values and low to middle class income, then I grew up with a whole lot of common folks. Salt of the earth individuals who would give the shirt off their backs, if our single parent family was in need. I recall one dreadful accident, when our 800 sq. ft. wooden home was engulfed in flames. The inside of our charred house was gutted. Friends came to assist while the ashes were still wet and our hearts drenched in sadness. I’m so grateful for the generosity of people—who loved and listened to me.
Jesus was a magnet for common people. Why? Certainly, His teaching—one who taught with clarity, humility and authority on behalf of His heavenly Father. His love laced words with everyday expressions and examples made Him extremely relatable. Jesus understood and lived among commoners. His humble beginnings: born in a barn and growing up in the arid village of Nazareth. He experienced the modest, blue-collar home of a dad who worked with his hands—a carpenter. Common people listened with humility and gladly embraced His uncommon message!
“When the Sabbath day came, he [Jesus] went into the synagogue and began to teach. The people were amazed at his teaching, for he taught with real authority—quite unlike the teachers of religious law” (Mark 1:26-27, NLT).
Humility is the foyer that leads into a robust house of faith, love and wisdom. If you want access to the deeper things of God, humility is a perquisite. A warning: the longer a person is a follower of Jesus, the easier it is to get relationally lazy with the Lord. What I mean is just coasting in our faith and miss experiencing an authentic humility that naturally leads to the joy of a greater love from God. My wife Rita gave me a very helpful description of humility she read from Brene Brown, “Humility comes from the Latin word humilitas, meaning groundedness. Humility allows us to admit we are wrong—we realize that getting it right is more important than needing to ‘prove’ that we are right. Humility is key to grounded confidence and healthy relationships”.
Brene’s phrase, “getting it right is more important than needing to ‘prove’ that we are right”, requires an uncommon ability to listen with humility, empathy and love. For me to pause, pray and respond in a way that is relationally healthy, solution minded—not in attack mode. Even better is being in a humble posture to acknowledge God’s presence in the moment. Living in the present means I submit to Christ in His presence. Here I can truly listen to the Spirit’s nudging. Be kind. Listen to understand. Be caring. What does Jesus want to give me in this holy moment? His love. His patience. His wisdom. His security. Humility gladly listens to Jesus’ loving heart!
“But he’s already made it plain how to live, what to do, what God is looking for in men and women. It’s quite simple: Do what is fair and just to your neighbor, be compassionate and loyal in your love, And don’t take yourself too seriously—take God seriously” (Micah 6:8, MSG).
Prayer
Heavenly Father, humble my heart by your love, so I can listen with a heart of empathy, love and wisdom, through Christ’s love and in Jesus’ name, amen.
Application
What relationship in my life needs me to not have to prove I am right, but rather help be a solution to humbly get things right?
Related Reading
Proverbs 3:34, 11:2; Ephesians 4:2; Colossians 3:12; 1 Peter 5:6-7
Worship Resource
Matt Redman feat. Tasha Cobbs Leonard: Gracefully Broken
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