"But to this one will I look, to him who is humble and contrite of spirit, and who trembles at My Word." Isaiah 66:2

 I am reminded of a question presented to Dwight Moody following a sermon he gave on the subject of humility, "Brother Moody, if I understand your message correctly, you are saying that a truly humble person doesn’t think much of himself." The preacher replied saying, -"No, what I am saying is a truly humble person doesn’t think of himself at all."

 In my view there is a shocking lack of humility in today’s brand of Christianity. It seems that everyone is focused on themselves and what they happen to be doing. Personal testimonies are often filled with stories that exalt self more than God. And yet when asked who would be the greatest in the Kingdom of God, Jesus answered, "the humble."

As Paul wrote, sometimes boasting is necessary though it is never profitable. Why is it sometimes necessary, and why is it never profitable? Being an Apostle and leader in the Church, Paul sometimes had to remind the brethren of who he was and what he had suffered for the Gospel.

False teachers were coming in making exalted claims about themselves in order to draw brethren away from the truth, so Paul had to give the Church a reality check once in a while - that is why it was necessary. But boasting of self is never profitable because it stores no treasure in Heaven. When a person exalts himself he receives his reward then and there. Jesus said that those who do things to receive honor from men receive that as their reward.

 How many Christians today are contrite of spirit? To be contrite of spirit means to live with a repentant attitude. As saints of God we don’t live with sorrow and remorse - these feelings moved us to the repentance and grace in which we now live. A person who is contrite of spirit is looking to honor and please the Lord and to change anything in their lives that may grieve Him.

 How many Christians today tremble at God’s Word? Moses was a friend of God and was highly esteemed, yet he trembled in God’s presence, -"And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, ‘I am full of fear and trembling.’" (Heb.12) God is our Father who loves us with an everlasting love, but to know and love Him is to have a healthy fear of Him.

We must tremble at God’s Word because His Word is Truth, is Judgment and is Life. Even now the Church of Jesus Christ is being judged by the Word of God, -"For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the Gospel of God?" (1 Pet.4)

 Sometimes it’s easy to get a little careless in our Christian walk. We love the Lord, the Lord loves us, so we can get so comfortable that it turns into neglect. We must not neglect to carefully obey God’s Word. Let us remember King David whom God said was a man after His own heart. When David neglected God’s Word in how to transport the Ark of the Covenant, God was angry and struck one of his men down. David was dancing before the Ark and was praising God, but he had failed to check the Word. David had become careless and had failed to tremble at the Word of God and suffered as a result. David consulted the Word and with a humble and contrite spirit, repented.