Humility and Faith – The way to Peace
Two artists who were asked to illustrate peace. Each was assigned the task of depicting a peaceful scene on canvas.
The first artist drew a beautiful picture of countryside on a warm, spring day. A soft sun illumines green grass. A picturesque farm house and grazing cattle are bathed in its warmth. A farmer walks contentedly behind strong plow horses making his field ready for spring planting. The picture is one of beauty and quiet tranquility.
The other artist took a different approach. He drew a majestic, rugged cliff. Gnarled trees, twisted by years of violent winds, jut from the craggy mountainside. Dark clouds hang low and fierce while jagged streaks of lightening slash across an angry sky. The picture is one of violence, chaos and rage.
But as one looks closely, something else becomes visible. There in one of the crevices of the rocky mountain, tucked back just out of reach of the wind and rain -- a nest with two small birds. Apparently unconcerned about the impending storm, they appear calm, cozy and peaceful as they patiently wait for the turbulence to pass
• Jesus was about to step into a storm of violence, chaos and rage. It was the night before his crucifixion and you can imagine how focused his mind had become on the task ahead
• He had seen the crosses on the outskirts of Jerusalem; He had probably witnessed a live crucifixion; He was aware of the prophesies of David and Isaiah
• Yet despite this impending storm that was about to unleash itself on Him he seems very much like those two little birds, he maintains an inner peace
As we go through this life there are two things that will rob us of this kind of peace is we allow it to
• We are the one’s who control “peace” in our lives. It is not the circumstances, it is not other people, it is not genes, it is us
• Alexander Solgzernitzen in gulag – soup bowl, blanket, he realized he was playing their game
• He stopped playing their game and the taunting stopped because he realized they were robbing him of the last thing he controlled – his response to their taunting
• In the same way we allow two things to rob us of peace
• So what are these two things that rob us of peace? They are “pride” and “fear”.
• As humans we spend enormous amounts of time worrying what other people think of us (Pride)
• The boss doesn’t like me! What will everyone think of my new haircut?
• We have whole industries built around Pride – Fashion, Entertainment, Media
• And as humans we spend enormous amounts of time worrying about our future (Fear)
• Girls where Susan works – New office
• And you know what, both of those things are under our control
• When I start to feel run down and exhausted, you know what I do, I start analyzing my life and ask myself the question, “What is it that is robbing me of my energy? Is it pride or fear?
Let me give you a personal example
• For the last 7 years or so Susan and I have lived under the threat of losing our job because of financial constraints
• First we worried about how we would make ends meet if they moved us to half time? That happened and we survived because God provided Susan with a job
• Now we live under the threat of losing our salary all together – now we could consume enormous amounts of time and energy worrying about our future - what will we do, how will we pay the bills, do we move, where do we move to etc?
• And what we would end up doing is allowing “fear” to dictate our lives
• Now my job as a pastor whether its my own life or someone else’s life is to give people gospel ways of coping in the midst of their problems
So what is the gospel response to Pride and Fear? Well let’s look at Jesus’ response to the storm He was about to encounter
• Here was Jesus on the night before the approaching storm and what was his frame of mind
• John 13:3-5 (NLT) 3 Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that he had come from God and would return to God. 4 So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, 5 and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel he had around him.
• If I knew that tomorrow would be the last day of my life, the last thing on my mind would be the state of the disciples feet
• But here we see Jesus’ response to “Pride”
• Here is the creator of the universe bowing down like a common servant and washing the disciples feet
• Not exactly what you would expect from the king of the Universe
• And of course the next day that same king of the Universe went to the cross like a common criminal and died one of the most ignominious deaths one could possibly suffer
• So we see Jesus’ response to pride is “humility”
What about his response to “Fear”
• Luke 22:41-44 (NLT) He walked away, about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, 42 “Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will, not mine.”
• What was Jesus’ response to fear? Faith! Faith that the Father knew what was best for His life
• Did Jesus have the same drive to preserve His life as you and I? Did He experience mind numbing fear? Absolutely
• 43 Then an angel from heaven appeared and strengthened him. 44 He prayed more fervently, and he was in such agony of spirit that his sweat fell to the ground like great drops of blood.
• Despite this kind of stress, Jesus subjected Himself to the will of the Father
• 1 Peter 2:21-23 (NLT)This suffering is all part of what God has called you to.
• You don’t hear this verse quoted to much by the “health and wealth” crowd
• Christ, who suffered for you, is your example. Follow in his steps.
• In what way are we to follow Him?
• 22 He never sinned, and he never deceived anyone. 23 He did not retaliate when he was insulted. When he suffered, he did not threaten to get even. He left his case in the hands of God, who always judges fairly.
• And you know what, the Father came through. Despite the storm that was swirling around Him, Jesus was at peace
• And you and I can be at peace to if we follow Christ’s example
• Faith is allowing God to tuck us in the crevice of the rock
Feeling a little exhausted, feeling a little worn out. Then we need to evaluate our lives to see what is causing that stress
• Humility and faith are the answers to a stress free life
• Doesn’t mean the storms and tempests have gone away, they are still raging just as they were around Jesus on that fateful last day
• What humility and Faith give us is the capacity to weather the storms, and inner peace that is greater than the problems of life
• Godly peace is not freedom from the storm, but peace amid the storm
• Philippians 4:6-7 (NKJV) 6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
