A Refreshing Example of Humility

This past Sunday as the service closed and my husband handed the microphone to the Pastor of the church, humility overflowed in a powerful way.

The Pastor of this California church, responding to the Holy Spirit, not my husband's preaching, started sharing with his people. With tears quickly filling his eyes, He admitted he had not obeyed what God had asked. He apologized to the church about something God asked him to lead his people in and he had not yet done.

What he spoke about is not what is important here, but rather the humility and integrity modeled. It was a refreshing site to behold, truly behold, as the Pastor wept and shared his heart with his congregation. It's rare to see this behavior these days. I often sense an arrogant spirit in many pastors or a spirit of fear in being open and honest. This church witnessed how the sin in their Pastor's life was causing a brokenness and humble heart. They saw him bothered by not obeying God. It was important for them to see this in their leader.

I was sitting in the front row and didn't turn around, but I don't think I was alone in my tears. It brings God so much glory when we empty ourselves and become obedient...no matter what the consequence. Jesus modeled it too. This is what we read in Phillipians 2:9,

"And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross."

If more pastors would be open and honest and confess publicly about what God is doing in their lives, I believe it would change the church in America. They would be free to lead their people to God's purposes much easier. It is so much easier to follow a humble man than a man so proud he pretends to always have it together.

In this I learned that to be fully obedient, humility will be required. If we are not willing to be humble, we will find it hard to obey Christ.