Let me share with you a story about Tom Brady ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥” one I hope I never forget. Even if you hate football, what the quarterback said is for your spiritual well-being.
Brady is one of the greatest athletes to play the game, able to drop a ball over and over again in a playerÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s hands at incredible distances and under pressure. But thatÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s not the point. Here it is:
Brady says, ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œI can throw a little.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥
Humility is a great spiritual gift.
Scripture says, ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œBut the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥¦ humilityÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥¦ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ (Galatians 5:22-23)
Let me show you a story in the Bible that brought faith and humility to a man of wealth and power. The story is about a man whose son is dying.
We know almost nothing about this man. He has no name. Scripture refers to him only as a ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œbasilikos,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ which means having to do with the king. Accordingly, heÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s perhaps a royal relative or courtier?
Either way, Herod (not Herod the Great who tried to kill Jesus, but his son) most likely knew about this dying child, part of the royal household, and what became of him. HereÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s the passage:
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œSo Jesus came again to Cana of Galilee where He had made the water wine. And there was a certain nobleman whose son was sick at Capernaum.
When he heard that Jesus had come out of Judea into Galilee, he went to Him and implored Him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ (John 4:46-47 NKJV)
How does our Lord respond to the nobleman?
Jesus scolds the man
Jesus does not go with him
Jesus tells him, ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œGo; your son livesÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥
All of the above
None of the above
Consider your choices and select your answer. HereÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s the passage:
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œThen Jesus said to him, ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥˜Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will by no means believe.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œThe nobleman said to Him, ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥˜Sir, come down before my child dies!ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œJesus said to him, ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥˜Go; your son lives.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ (John 4:48-50)
The answer is No. 4, all of the above.
The nobleman needs JesusÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™ help. When Jesus scolds him, the man refuses to be offended. He remains humble, pleading with the Lord for help. And Jesus grants his request.
As the man returns home, his slaves meet him and tell him the child has recovered. The nobleman then learns that the fever left the boy when Jesus reassured him that his child would live.
For the nobleman to walk away from Jesus without having seen the miracle of his sonÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s healing required great faith. Jesus told him to go, that his son was well. The nobleman believed him.
Scripture goes on to tell us that once the man returned home, all of his household believed in Jesus.
Did Herod learn of it?
Why wouldnÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™t he?
In fact, the Bible tells us that when Herod finally meets Jesus, Herod is ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œoverjoyed.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ HereÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s the passage:
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œNow Herod was overjoyed when he saw Jesus; for he had wanted to see Him for a long time, because he had been hearing about Him and was hoping to see some sign performed by Him.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ (Luke 23:8)
But when Jesus stood silent before him, Herod mocked our Lord. See the difference between the humble nobleman who had faith and Herod, who must have thought himself an important man.
But fortunes change.
By 39 A.D., Herod is in a fight with his nephew and Caesar banishes Herod from Rome. The once-powerful ruler was never heard from again.
The nephew, Herod Agrippa, was just as arrogant. And heÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s in for it as well.
In chapter 12 of Acts, Herod Agrippa executes James, the brother of John. By the end of the chapter, an angel strikes Herod Agrippa and heÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s eaten by worms and dies.
Fortunes change.
No matter where you think you are or what you think youÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™ve accomplished as this year opens, rest your head at the feet of God. DonÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™t think too highly of yourself, your gifts, your belongings.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œGod is opposed to the proud but gives grace to the humble.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ (James 4:6)
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œPride goes before destruction.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ (Proverbs 16:8)
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œLet the one who thinks he stands watch out lest he fallÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥¦ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ (1 Corinthians 10:12)
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œBut I will look to this one, at one who is humble and contrite in spirit, and who trembles at My word.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ (Isaiah 66:2)
Memorize these verses.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œHumility may be the most elusive of all personality traits,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ Pastor Joe McKeever says. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œIf you think you have it, you probably donÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™t.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥
Tom Brady says, ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œI can throw a little.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥
