Date: October 21, 2024

Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, power, and dominion forever and ever, and to the Holy Ghost, who continues to dwell within us, guiding our steps.  This month’s messages delve into Humility: “The Power of Humility: Choose Service Over Self-Interest.”

One critical characteristic of a servant, which we cannot do without if we want to be a servant, is humility. At one point or another, we all wrestle with our pride. We find serving hard because we regard ourselves more highly than we ought. Romans 12:3 reminds us, “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.” That’s the problem with Satan and Adam and Eve, when the devil influenced them. Before the creation of the world, Satan was Lucifer, the angel. Pride took over him, and he rebelled against God.

Saints, pride will always lead to ruin because we shift our confidence away from God to self. Proverbs 16:18 says, “Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” Hence, the way to greatness in the Kingdom of God is not up but down. Jesus humbled Himself, “Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues without right” (verse 8), and God exalted Him, “A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps” (verse 9). The disciples learned after hearing from Jesus and seeing Him serve. Therefore, “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up” – James 4: 10. First Peter 5:6 instructs, “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time.”

In conclusion, humility is not a burden but a blessing. It frees us from the need to prove ourselves, compete with others, and strive for the world’s approval. It allows us to rest in God’s love and grace, to find our worth in Him rather than in our achievements or possessions. It opens the door for God to work in and through us. As Proverbs 3:34 reminds us, “He mocks proud mockers but gives grace to the humble.” When we humble ourselves, we position ourselves to receive God’s grace, His unmerited favor. We make room for Him to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us (Ephesians 3:20).

Remember in all that we are confronted with daily, “…with God, all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26). 

In His Service,

Bishop Dr. Calvin Worthem

General Chief Overseer/Senior Bishop