Do you like to think of God as humble? There are two answers to that question.

1. 1. No, God’s humility is a stumbling block.

At first we say no. The humility of God is one of the major stumbling blocks to belief. It would be easier to believe in him if he were not so invisible. Obviously, if God wants us to believe in him he should stop hiding. He should appear in the sky every year or so and write in letters of fire – “I’m watching you.”

If God wants worship, he should stop acting like some kind of retiring artist who likes to paint stars, sunsets, mountain landscapes and rainbows, but will never show his face.

And if God wants me to believe in him, he should have thought of a better plan than the cross. Come on, the best he could come up with was to come to earth as a weak rabbi, to be falsely accused, tried and crucifed? That is foolishness.

The cross is foolishness to the greeks and a stumbling block to the Jews. God is the opposite of what we who worship strength and hate weakness want. (1 Corintians 1:22)

1. A Gracious Invitation

Still, there is a graciousness to God’s humility. What would life be like if God were not humble? Would we live our lives in cowering fear?

But a humble God would be winsome.

Bill Clinton Story – The staff of his New York Hotel had lined up at the end of the hall in hopes of seeing President Clinton leave. As he left he waved, then called out – Charlie is that you? How is your father?

A humble God would remember your name, and miss you if you were gone. John 10

A humble God is approachable. He would be so glad that you took an interest in him that he would promise to receive you, and never let you go. John 6:35 ff.)

A humble God would stand at the door and knock. That is where your God is today. He wants to know you, he wants to be part of your decisions, he wants to be part of your struggles and your celebrations. He just wants to talk to you. But he will not force you to do any of it. He is meek, and lowly of heart, and you can miss him.

1. Following a Humble God

If leaving Glory to live a life of suffering is the kind of God he is. What kind of people ought we to be?

1. Activate Who You Are

5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,

Paul does not say hey, stop being what you are and start being what you are not. Instead he says, have the mind in yourselves which is yours in Christ Jesus.

I just listened to a book about a man whose father was a god. He could sing away fear and pain, and sing people into joy and happiness. But he would only sing in the shower. He would never use his ability.

You are in Christ Jesus, you have everything you need in the Gospel. Now use it. You have the power, activate it. You have the ability to stop thinking about only yourself. You have the ability to stop worrying over whether or not you are getting credit. You have the ability to stop obsessing over what others think of you. You have Christ within you, you can start thinking of others. You have the ability, activate it.

1. Serve

4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

I hope by now I have changed the meaning of the phrase “playing God.” Usually when you hear the term it means someone is acting like they have a lot of authority. If someone wants to give some orders, some smart alec will turn and say – I didn’t know God went on vacation and left you in Charge.

Actually, Jesus has ascended into heaven and invited you to play God while he is gone. Do you want to play God? Go into that nursery and change some diapers. Want to play God? Get here early and run the vacuum cleaner. Want to play God? Go look for some chore that everyone is ignoring because they don’t want to do it, and do it without being asked, and without getting credit.