Remember the former things, those of long ago;
     I am God, and there is no other;
     I am God, and there is none like me.
…I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.’ (Isa 46:9-10)

HUMILITY comes from perspective, and that perspective will come from many places. Considering the truth, using our logic and imagination and silence, can impart a deep understanding and perspective. It takes discipline, but it’s much easier than reflecting in the midst of pain.

Humility and ministry isn’t just remembering: “we are sinners and we serve a holy God.” Of course this is true and I’d take nothing from this. Instead I would add: We are creations of the God who makes from nothing. It is God who speaks the truth and declares what is right (Isa 45:19).

A small perspective is, for the most part, comfortable and predictable. It locks us into a pattern that safe and satisfying yet also self destructive…we just make excuses for the pain and focus on the pleasure.

Humility can be found in a larger picture. God ought to be a picture that’s so big we can’t see the edges. Like standing with our nose to the IMAX screen. In this picture we see God as the one whom no one is like, as the one who does as he likes. We gain humility when we see that we can’t see, because the picture defies our understanding. We raise things up to be like God, and we pull down God to be like us. We worship this or that, and we challenge the purposes and actions of God.

Without humility in leadership, there will be a time when we stop serving in ministry and start striving for our monument. We pass off our efforts as faithfulness, but in our hearts we’re consumed with credit. We call our structures “leaving a legacy,” but we consider ourselves irreplaceable.

Long ago, there was no creation. There was only God. That has implications for today, and those ought to lead to humility.