The Simplicity of Humility

Tonight on the way home from the Wabash Valley International House of Prayer some lines from a song on the radio reminded me of a brief conversation I had with my cows this afternoon (it was one-sided as far as I could tell). This week has been kind of a whirlwind because of two different situations where friends were going through some really tough situations relationally. The magnitude of the problems can seem overwhelming, to the point where you almost just don't know where to start to find the solution. I believe with all my heart that no problem is too big for God to set straight, no wounded heart too far gone for Him to mend. But sometimes we stand in the way and delay His healing.

So when I went out to roll up the fencing for the cows the final time this afternoon, I walked through the herd, enjoying their contentment. Aggie and Ashlyn happened to be nearby, curiously sniffing me, and I asked them, "Why do we avoid a life of simplicity? I bet you guys are glad to be cows. You've got it pretty good, really." We humans make life so difficult, don't we?

This week a scripture verse has come to my mind several times, but I hadn't had a chance to look up where it was in the Bible. The words in my heart were the Lord's, "For I have wounded that I may heal." Tonight I was late arriving in the prayer room, so I kind of jumped into the middle of the worship set and the scripture they were singing. Soon the worship leader sang some words that were very close to the words that had been on my heart. The scripture listed on the screen was Hosea 6:3. I looked it up and found I had already highlighted it. Verses 1-3 read as follows:
"Come, let us return to the LORD.
For He has torn us, but He will heal us;
He has wounded us, but He will bandage us.
He will revive us after two days;
He will raise us up on the third day
That we may live before Him.
So let us know, let us press on to know the LORD.
His going forth is as certain as the dawn;
And He will come to us like the rain,
Like the spring rain watering the earth."

These words spoken through the prophet Hosea to Israel and Judah centuries ago are still very spiritually relevant to us today. Yep, the Lord is speaking!

Well, on the way home "All of Creation" by Mercy Me was playing. The chorus says,
"All of creation, sing with me now
lift up your voice and lay your burden down
All of creation, sing with me now
fill up the heaven, let His glory resound"

Lift up your voice and lay your burden down. What's your burden? Lay it down. God is offering to take it for you. He carries my cows' burdens, and they live pretty carefree lives, it appears to me. Most of creation lets Him carry the burden, and creation is pretty good at singing His praises, too. Why can't we? Why do we make life so difficult? Why is loving each other so difficult? Jesus showed us how. "Greater love has no man than he who lays down his life for another." Because Israel and Judah would not humble themselves, because they chased after other gods, because they did not do justly and love mercy, God's hand was forced. Rather than lose them, He tore them and wounded them, that He could heal them. I think this means that He couldn't heal them until they were in the place of humility.

Whatever it is you are facing in your life, keep your heart humble, for if you "humble yourself...He will lift you up." God wants to heal you and make you whole. Spirit, soul, and body. And out of your wholeness, you will be able to love others as He loves you. The Gospel really is simple. Just ask the cows.