What other scriptures emphasize God's sovereignty and our need for humility? Isaiah 29:16 – our upside-down instincts “You have turned things upside down, as if the potter were regarded as the clay! Shall what is formed say to Him who formed it, ‘He did not make me’? Can the pot say of the potter, ‘He has no hands’?” Potter-and-clay snapshots • Isaiah 45:9 – “Woe to him who contends with his Maker—one clay pot among many! Does the clay say to the potter, ‘What are you making?’” • Jeremiah 18:6 – “O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter does? … Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in My hand.” • Romans 9:20-21 – “But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? … Does not the potter have the right to make from the same lump of clay one vessel for special occasions and another for common use?” Panoramic declarations of sovereignty • Psalm 103:19 – “The LORD has established His throne in heaven, and His kingdom rules over all.” • Psalm 115:3 – “Our God is in heaven; He does as He pleases.” • Daniel 4:34-35 – “All the inhabitants of the earth are regarded as nothing… No one can restrain His hand or say to Him, ‘What have You done?’” • Job 42:2 – “I know that You can do all things and that no plan of Yours can be thwarted.” • Proverbs 16:9 – “A man’s heart plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.” • Proverbs 19:21 – “Many plans are in a man’s heart, but the purpose of the LORD will prevail.” Prophetic calls to humble trust • Micah 6:8 – “He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God?” • Isaiah 66:2 – “This is the one I will esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at My word.” • Zephaniah 2:3 – “Seek the LORD, all you humble of the land… seek humility; perhaps you will be sheltered on the day of the LORD’s anger.” Jesus models and commands humility • Matthew 18:3-4 – “Unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom.” • Matthew 23:12 – “Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” • Luke 14:11 – “Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” • John 13:14-15 – “Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet… you also should wash one another’s feet.” The apostles connect sovereignty with humility • Romans 11:33-36 – “Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! … From Him and through Him and to Him are all things.” • James 4:6, 10, 13-15 – “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble… Humble yourselves before the Lord… Instead, you ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.’” • 1 Peter 5:5-7 – “Clothe yourselves with humility toward one another… Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand.” • Philippians 2:5-11 – Christ “humbled Himself… therefore God exalted Him to the highest place.” Walking it out today • Let Scripture re-center perspective: He is the potter; we are the clay. • Replace self-directed plans with the simple phrase: “If the Lord wills.” • Practice lowly acts of service—foot-washing moments that echo Jesus. • Thank God aloud for His control when life feels unstable. Gratitude breeds humility. • Keep short accounts with pride: confess it quickly; celebrate God’s unmatched rule just as quickly. |
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