A Nugget from New Life Network
Scripture for the Day (August 29, 2016)
For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. (Romans 12:3)
I recently watched an interview of Missionary Heidi Baker on the 700 Club. Heidi and her husband Rolland have been missionaries for over 30 years. They have planted over 7000 bush churches in Mozambique. They have seen extensive miracles in Africa and have witnessed the healing of hundreds of deaf and blind people.
One of the questions asked by the 700 Club interviewer was why do we not see those type of miracles in our churches in the West? What is the secret? Heidi’s answer was very simple and yet very profound. Her response was, “You need to get low.”
I want us to think about Heidi’s answer in the light of the scriptures. The way I see it, there is a spiritual side and a natural side to getting low. Let’s all examine our own selves as to where we are in this process. Jesus is our “get low” example. He gave up His throne and all the supernatural advantages of Heaven to be born in a manger and take on an earthly body. He chose to minister to sinners and heal the sick. He chose to ride in on a donkey. He chose to wash the disciple’s feet. He chose to be beaten and die on a cross for you and I. He chose to “get low” in everything He did!
John the Baptist “got low” like this. He must increase, but I must decrease. (John 3:30). I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance. but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: (Matthew 3:11)
The scripture addresses all of us today with this same “get low” principle like this:
Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:3-11, NASB)
When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. (Matthew 25: 31-40)
In simple terms, none of us need to act so high and mighty. We need to “get low” before an Almighty God and we need to “get low” in our ministry one to another.
