Sing a New Song
Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth.—Psalm 96:1 (NIV)
In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”—1 PETER 5:5 (NIV)
Mom, like most residents at her memory care facility, is confined to a wheelchair. While visiting last week, I noticed a member of the staff was crouched down next to the wheelchair of an Alzheimer’s patient, her face was tilted upward to meet their gaze. This caught my attention because the staff members usually tower over the residents, forcing them to crane their necks upward. I was guilty of this as well. Without realizing it, we were putting ourselves in a position of authority. We made it difficult for the elderly to communicate with us. To see us face-to-face.
I was reminded of Jesus and his humble acts while ministering to those in need. He didn’t force people to look up at him. He lowered himself to their level. He washed his disciples’ feet. He squatted before the blind man to touch his eyes. He sat when he preached to the masses. He chose to humble himself, to come to our level that we might communicate with him. That we might see him face-to-face.
Lord, help me to follow the examples of Jesus by humbling myself to the elderly and those in need. Thank you for your grace.
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Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth.—Psalm 96:1 (NIV)
Oh, that I might have my request, that God would grant my desire.—Job 6:8 (NIV)
The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners.—Isaiah 61:1 (NIV)