Devotion for January 4, 2022

Luke 3:15-17, 21-22
As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah,  John answered all of them by saying, “I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”

Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heaven was opened, and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.”

It seems that humility is not a widely valued trait. Yet, here is John being asked about being the Messiah. Can you imagine the temptation of saying yes, exploiting the power, fame and wealth that could potentially have followed? Instead, he chooses humility. He doesn’t simply say that he is not the Messiah, but rather he describes the Messiah as more powerful. He describes himself being unworthy to untie the Messiah’s sandals. His witness is to tell all that the Messiah will bring to the world and he does it without choosing to steal credit or spotlight.

As we begin a new year, maybe making humility in all things a priority this year. Maybe we are not always right. Maybe we don’t know all there is to know about a situation. Maybe we need to make sure the right people get the credit when it is due. How do we do these things?

• Be curious
• Recognize there is always more to learn
• Seek to see from another’s perspective rather than defending your own
• Admit when you are wrong
• Ask forgiveness when you make mistakes
• Accept compliments well
• This list could go on and on and on…