The Soil Of Humility

All around him was a glowing halo, like a rainbow shining in the clouds on a rainy day. This is what the glory of the LORD looked like to me. When I saw it, I fell face down on the ground, and I heard someone’s voice speaking to me.

Ezekiel 1:28

IN A COLLECTION OF children’s letters to God, Wayne, age eleven, wrote: “Dear God, my dad thinks he is You. Please straighten him out.” When we come before God, we must remember who we are talking to. We need to come to Him in an attitude of humility, recognizing His greatness.

A humble attitude reflects our understanding that we come to God on His terms. We come down from our lofty perch of self-importance and meet God on the soil of humility. It is worth remembering the root of the word humility is humus, meaning dirt or soil. Humbling ourselves before God doesn’t mean we become dirt; rather, it means we recognize our place as created beings who are completely dependent on God for everything.

When Ezekiel experienced the presence of God, he understood his place and the appropriate posture he should take. In humility, he fell facedown before God. It is interesting that God called Ezekiel “son of man” or “son of dust.” Ezekiel recognized the difference between himself and God, and he responded with appropriate awe and humility.

When we experience God, we will often be overwhelmed by His holiness and aware of our own sinfulness and insignificance. We, too, will often fall before Him in reverence and deep humility. He is a loving heavenly Father and an awesome God.

BOTTOM LINE

Have you taken a posture of humility before the holy God? It’s a natural response to His greatness.

Moment of Strength: Zephaniah 2:3