Today’s Reflection
Deepening humility is the core spiritual practice for disciples of Jesus. Humility must be cultivated so that the soul can grow strong. All our exploration, all our awareness—of ourselves and of God—will come to naught if it does not lead us to humility. Properly tilled and constantly fertilized through awareness, this now-rich soil of humility fills the circle of your awareness, allowing roots to grow. The roots that grow in this humble soil also have a name—love.
—Christopher Maricle, Deeply Rooted: Knowing Self, Growing in God (Upper Room Books, 2016)
Today’s Question
How does being planted in humble soil help your roots of love grow? Join the conversation.
Today’s Scripture
Conduct yourselves with all humility, gentleness, and patience. Accept each other with love.
—Ephesians 4:2 (CEB)
Prayer for the Week
God, give me the humility to know that I am a growing work in progress. Give me the grace and understanding to see the growth in those around me.
Submit your prayer to The Upper Room.
Something More
Generous donors like you make The Upper Room Chaplains’ Ministry possible. Help military, VA hospital, and prison chaplains provide hope and encouragement to those in their care. Give to The Upper Room Chaplains’ Ministry.
Lectionary Readings
(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)
Looking for lectionary-based resources? Learn more about The Upper Room Disciplines.
7 Comments
There is much truth in this thought…humility is the richest soil – for growth of oneself and relationship with others, in light of God. Christ’s humbleness enabled Him to walk among the masses, drawing people to Him – for His wisdom, His healing, His teaching. Yes, a strong and wise leader will naturally be humble.
Was able to spend time with my colleague and friend last night, the one who is going through treatment for breast cancer. I took food down to her place and we grilled it up and just enjoyed a quiet evening on her patio eating and talking.
Thinking, this morning, of those whose absence is noticeable…Rick, Andrea, Connie, Marcy, Mary, BJ – Father, thank You for these fellow sojourners. May they abide in Your peace. Thank You for sustaining those who gather here regularly – for the work You are doing in our lives and the lives of those dear to us.
If I consider myself humble, that’s not telling the truth, Just as with all the virtues we as Christians are commanded to acquire, exhibit, and practice, constant effort is needed and where we fail, as fail we will, God’s grace supplies what is needed. The pandemic has hampered, but not prevented, developing new friendships, relationships in a state where I am now only a year plus resident. Church has provided new people and opportunities Thank You, Lord.
Yes, Jill. I too miss the posts of those you name. I don’t know the reason(s) why, hope they still come, even if they don’t post. Just as with God-the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, they are with us in our hearts and minds. We remember them and continue to hold them up to the Lord. God IS WITH THEM till we meet again. Thank You, Lord.
Good morning, UR family! Praying that all is well. Thank you Jill for thinking of me this morning! Like always, your words are always warm in the very early morning times. I really, really love y’all and have a blessed day.
Wonderful to hear from you BJ. May you have a blessed day as well. Mine is now that I “hear” you are well.
My humility reminds me that I am a sinner and will be judged by the Lord. My humility shows me how much more I need to strive to emulate Christ as the example of pure humiltity and obedience. Lord, I pray for the humility to know my inabilities and inadequacies.
Prayers for Jill and her friend as she undergoes treatment. May her friend’s health be in God’s healing hands.
Prayers for Robert and new friends with which to explore faith and the area of his new home.
Prayers for Ally and David, may his recent health issues continue to abate.
I add my prayers to Jill’s and Robert’s for those we miss. May they continue to read and see that we hold them in our hearts and wish them health and safety and the love of God.
Prayers, thank you and stay healthy dear UR one and all
Greetings All,
I am indeed feeling humbled as I write today, thank you Jill and Robert. I got completely overwhelmed with packing and home improvements here. I kept thinking I could get caught up on all your posts and was beating myself up and fell terribly behind. While I have been finding time to meditate and pray it has not been going perfectly. I must admit that I was beginning to feel so much distance been expected and God. So today I felt God guiding me back and it was the perfect topic for me. I’ve missed you all dearly and you have been in my thoughts and prayers. I do still hope to get caught up, you have been like a family to me, guiding and nourishing me. We are both well, and should be leaving San Diego later this week or early the next onto our new adventure in Texas. We have found temporary housing through Scott’s work for up to90 days to then find a more permanent home. It’s been challenging to navigate all this in these times as the Covid-19 numbers continue to rise. As we move during this pandemic I have to constantly turn my frustrations and fears over to God.
How does being planted in humble soil help your roots of love grow?
Making mistakes is a normal part of growing up. I don’t remember anyone ever pointing out that they will help me grow to be a humble person. I do remember how angry I became with myself for making the mistake and made it a point to never do it again. As I have learned more about Jesus and become more educated in the work the Spirit is working in me, I now can identify those mistakes as lessons in humbleness. And just as we are blessed to be a blessing, I was humbled so that I can relate to those who are making mistakes or in situations not always of their own doing. Today’s message reminds me that I can share this learning with my grandkiddos as they are growing up. I have been mindful of demonstrating forgiveness, but now I can add humbleness.
Another wonderful lesson about trees. Yesterday morning we awoke to find that a wind storm had come through the area and a tree had toppled over. In listening to the account of this, it was revealed that this is not the first time the tree has leaned over and people would just straighten it up. It was suggested that it be staked, but when someone tried that, they found the ground that was about 12 inches down was so hard that the stake could not go in, thus the root ball only had a small amount of top soil to grow in but no bottom soil to stake its roots in. What to do? I suggested that the hard soil be loosened with a machine rather than humans with shovels. Another suggested that the tree be tied to a solid brick pillar that is on the driveway. Tomorrow I will walk over and see what the solution was.
I am not sure how many more days we will be focusing on nature and trees, so I will share another tidbit I learned from an arborist. The roots of the tree grow from the diameter of the tree to the distance of the branches. When it rains or we water the tree, it is important to water at this point and not at the base of the tree. If you water at the base of the tree, the roots do not grow outward to stabilize the tree and nourish it. I thought of the marginalized people in the world and how we need to reach out to them from our strong base of love.
Lastly, I want to share a song that was sung in church one day that has stayed with me over the years. As I think about it, I only heard it once, but it was so powerful to me that often when I see an apple tree, I think of them as a symbol of Jesus Christ. Blessings dear UR family. Stay safe.
Jesus Christ the Apple Tree
Jane Siberry
Jesus Christ the Apple Tree
The tree of life my soul hath seen
Laden with fruit and always green
The tree of life my soul hath seen
Laden with fruit and always green
The trees of nature fruitless be
Compared with Christ the apple tree
His beauty doth all things excel
By faith, I know but ne’er can tell
His beauty doth all things excel
By faith, I know but ne’er can tell
The glory which I now can see
In Jesus Christ the apple tree
For happiness I long have sought
And pleasure dearly I have bought
For happiness I long have sought
And pleasure dearly I have bought
I missed of all but now I see
‘Tis found in Christ the apple tree
I’m weary with my former toil
Here I will sit and rest a while
I’m weary with my former toil
Here I will sit and rest a while
Under the shadow I will be
Of Jesus Christ the apple tree
This fruit does make my soul to thrive
It keeps my dying faith alive
This fruit does make my soul to thrive
It keeps my dying faith alive
Which makes my soul in haste to be
With Jesus Christ the apple tree
Add Comment