Isaac Boluwatise

Humility is Strength

December 6th, 2024

“God opposes the proud but shows favour to the humble.” (James 4:6, NIV)

Humility is not weakness, it is one of the greatest strengths. It takes courage to step back, admit limitations, and honour others above ourselves. God exalts the humble because humility creates space for His power to operate.

James reminds us that pride distances us from God, while humility draws His favour. While pride insists on self-sufficiency humility acknowledges God through dependence. As C.S. Lewis aptly wrote, “Humility is not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less.”

Christ exemplified this humility throughout His ministry. He healed the sick without seeking attention or applause, taught without seeking followers, and ultimately submitted to the Father’s will. His humility brought salvation to the world, proving that strength lies in surrender.

Consider moments in your life where pride created barriers—in relationships, at work, or in your spiritual journey. Now, think of times when humility opened doors to reconciliation, growth, or blessings. True strength comes not from asserting ourselves but from yielding to God and lifting others.

Pray earnestly today and ask the Spirit of God to lead you in the path of humility. Ask Him to guide you in priortizing God’s will and serving others selflessly. Ask Him to examine your heart and expose areas where you need to give up pride. Be intentional to practice humility this week. Seek forgiveness, give credit to others, or offer help without expecting recognition. Reflect on Micah 6:8, which urges us to walk humbly with God, and 1 Peter 5:6, which assures us that God will exalt the humble in His own time. Meditate on Matthew 5:5, where Jesus blesses the meek, promising they will inherit the earth.

True humility is far from weakness, it is simply the pedestal for divine strength and transformative leadership.

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Our Calling Is to Sacrificial Service

December 5th, 2024

“He humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!” (Philippians 2:8, NIV)

Sacrificial service defines Christ’s mission. From the splendour of heaven, He stepped into the confines of the earth. He did not only serve—He made lots of sacrifices. His ultimate act of humility and obedience led Him to the cross, where He gave everything to redeem humanity.

Obedience often demands sacrifice from us. The journey of Christ shows us that He shared equality with God. Despite this, He relinquished His divine privileges. He did so to embrace human frailty. His death on the cross was not just painful; it was a humiliating death reserved only for criminals. Yet, through this ultimate act of sacrifice, He obtained salvation for humanity. Dietrich Bonhoeffer famously wrote, “When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die.”

What does sacrificial service imply for us? It may not mean physical death. However, it requires dying to self. This means setting aside personal comfort, time, or resources for God’s purposes. Sacrifice challenges our crave for convenience. It pushes us beyond the superficial into the depths of selflessness.

Do you want to see actions that mirror the heart of Christ? Think of parents who work tirelessly. They provide for their children. Consider missionaries who leave everything. They serve in distant lands. Such acts mirror Christ’s heart and remind us that true love is costly, but its impact is eternal.

Reflect on your life today. Are there areas where God is calling you to make deeper sacrifices? It could be your time, resources, or even your plans. Sacrificial service aligns us with God’s will, glorifying Him while transforming us and others.

Pray today for the courage to embrace sacrificial service. Ask God to help you prioritize His purposes above personal comfort. Find a way to serve sacrificially this week. You can volunteer somewhere, give generously, or invest time in someone who needs encouragement. Read John 15:13 to see how love costs. Read Hebrews 12:1–3 to remember the need to fix your eyes on the ultimate example of Christ. Meditate also on Romans 12:1. It helps appreciate the calls for us to present our bodies as living sacrifices. They should be holy and pleasing to God.

Sacrifice is not loss—it’s gain when it reflects Christ’s love and fulfills His purposes.

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Leadership Is through Servanthood

December 4th, 2024

“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve.” (Mark 10:45, NIV)

Servanthood is at the heart of leadership in God’s kingdom. Jesus, the ultimate leader, embodied this truth. Though He held all authority, He chose to serve rather than demand service. His life and death illustrated that leadership is not about status but sacrifice.

It was difficult for the disciples to grasp the principle. The request of James and John for power (Mark 10:35-45) mirrored the natural craving in humanity for attention and recognition. Jesus however, in a gentle manner, yet firmly, corrected their perspective. True greatness is in service, not superiority. It was with humility that Christ healed the sick, fed the hungry, and ultimately gave His life for sinners. His approach was not mere charity; it was transformative leadership.

Think of leaders in your life who left an indelible impact. Chances are, their influence came not from authority but from selfless service. True leadership commits to lifting others, empowering their grow, and pointing them to God. An unknown writer expressed this idea well. They stated: “The measure of a man’s greatness is not the number of servants he has. It is the number of people he serves.”

Servant leadership finds joy in uplifting others, not in seeking rewards. This true leadership echoes Christ’s call to prioritize the needs of others above personal needs. When we lead through service, we showcase the values of God’s kingdom. We do this in a world desperate for hope.

Challenge, Prayer, and Further Reading:
Pray for a leader’s heart—one that seeks to serve rather than dominate. Find a way to lead others by example. You can mentor someone, help a neighbour, or offer a listening ear. Look further into Luke 22:26–27 and John 13:3-5 for deeper insights about Christ’s servant leadership model. Meditate also on Galatians 5:13, which calls us to humbly serve one another in love.

Authentic leadership transforms because it flows from a heart anchored in Christ’s humility.

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The Power of Humility

December 3rd, 2024

“In humility, value others above yourselves.” (Philippians 2:3, NIV)

Reflection:
Humility is countercultural in the world that esteems self-promotion. God esteems the denial of self. To value others above ourselves requires a posture of the heart that views others through the lens of God’s love. It means seeing their worth and potential, not just their flaws or limitations.

Paul radically challenged us in Philippians 2:3, when he said: do nothing out of selfish ambition. The phrase “selfish ambition” portrays a toxic and self-centred drive to outshine others, often at their expense. Humility, on the other hand, redirects ambition to serve a higher purpose—God’s glory and the good of others. As Andrew Murray said, “Humility is the only soil in which the graces root.”

Humility does not diminish us in any way. Instead, it aligns us with the blueprint of God for operations in His kingdom. The practice of humility positions us to prefer and lift others. Humility build bridges and create an environment for unity, whereas pride foments conflict. Jesus demonstrated what humility looks like in practice when He stooped to wash His disciples’ feet (John 13:12–15). The King of kings served His followers and taught us that greatness comes from meeting the needs of others.

Reflect on your relationships. Are they marked by humility or pride? Do you listen more than you speak? Do you encourage others or seek recognition? Humility is life-changing. It mends relationships, strengthens communities, and reveals the heart of Christ to a watching world.

Charles Spurgeon wrote, “Humility is to make a right estimate of one’s self.” This self-awareness fosters dependence on God and compassion for others. When we value others as God does, we echo Christ’s humility, creating spaces for His love to thrive.

Challenge, Prayer, and Further Reading:
Pray for a heart that values others above self. Ask God to deliver you from pride and selfish ambition. Affirm how valuable someone else is today, whether through encouraging words, an act of kindness, or a sacrifice of your time. Reflect on John 13:12–15 and Romans 12:10. these passages illuminate humility in action. Meditate also on 1 Peter 5:6, which reminds us that God exalts the humble in His perfect time.

In humility, we reflect Christ and allow His grace to flow through us to others.
True Greatness is Found in Serving

December 2nd, 2024

“Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant.” (Mark 10:43, NIV)

Reflection:
The world defines greatness by titles, power, and wealth. Yet Jesus turns this notion on its head, declaring servanthood as the essence of greatness. Imagine a master washing the feet of his servants. This is the image Christ paints for authentic leadership. Humility, not dominance, is the pathway to impact in the kingdom of God.

Jesus’ words challenge the innate human desire for recognition and control. He says, “Not so with you.” This call to service confronts our tendency to strive for prominence at the expense of others. A.W. Tozer once said, “The meek man is not a human mouse afflicted with a sense of inferiority, but he may be in his moral life as bold as a lion and as strong as Samson.” The practice of true servanthood requires us to boldly lay aside personal ambitions for the sake of others.

The story of James and John seeking positions of power in Jesus’ kingdom is quite relevant (Mark 10:35-45). Their request, though earnest, revealed a misunderstanding of leadership in God’s economy. Jesus patiently redirected them: leadership is not about lording authority but lifting others.

Consider how often our motives for service stem from seeking affirmation or visibility. True servanthood, however, flows from a heart aligned with God’s purposes, seeking His glory above personal gain. John Stott captured this beautifully: “Greatness in the kingdom of God is measured by how low we stoop to serve.”

Imagine a world where individuals prioritize the need of others. we will see communities healing, relationships thriving, and God’s kingdom expanding. there is no pretension is servanthood; it’s a lifestyle. it reflects the heart of Christ to the world.

Challenge, Prayer, and Further Reading:
This week, ask God to reveal opportunities to serve unnoticed. Pray for joy in serving others, knowing how much it honours Christ. Reflect also on Matthew 23:11–12, which reminds us that humility leads to elevation. Read from Philippians 2:3–4. There we have the instruction to value others above ourselves. Look into Matthew 20:25–28, which focuses on Christ’s example of servanthood. Meditate on how Christ’s humility inspires the need for change in your life.

Transformation begins when service becomes the cornerstone of our interactions.