There’s a story in Luke about the disciples arguing over which one was greatest. This was just after everyone had been marveling about the greatness of God. Which was their response to Jesus healing a boy that nine of the disciples couldn’t heal. So it makes us wonder if the conversation started with Peter saying, “If I would have been there, I would have healed him. But Jesus was spending some time with just the three of us.”
I don’t know.
I do know that we often get caught up in trying to be the best in what we do, which includes being the best possible Christian.
So how do we learn humility?
1. We ask God to help us hear.
2. We listen to other people talk.
3. We hear what they need and we do what we can to help with that need, with as little attention as possible.
4. We don’t report back about how hard we worked to help.
5. We ask God to help us hear.
6. We listen more closely to other people.
7. We hear what they need and we ask God to help us see an even better way to help with that need.
8. We forget to tell anyone that we were helping.
9. We forget to consume our favorite media while we ask God to help us hear.
10. We listen to the same person we have helped a hundred times and we don’t sigh.
11. We finally hear why they need as they are filling that hole in their heart with whine.
12. We understand the whine in our own heart.
13. We thank God that the other person helped us hear.
14. We get as little attention as a child gets as the big people’s table. And so we silently help clear the dishes.
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From years ago.
