Congratulations Graduates

As students walk the stage in various transitions in life, having accomplished the incredible task that was before them, and having completed all the requirements for their respective diplomas and degrees, Congratulations Graduates! As you walk through the door of opportunity and transition from one chapter to the next, allow me to share a simple word of encouragement to you. One verse especially comes to mind as I think about the opportunity that lies before you.

To This One Will I Look

As the Book of Isaiah closes, God identifies the individual upon which He looks.

“But on this one will I look:
On him who is poor and of a contrite spirit,
And who trembles at My word” (Isa 66:2).

When God says that He will look upon a person, it means that God will look with favor upon a certain kind of individual. He looks at them with pleasure, acceptance, regard, and satisfaction. In this context, God accepts and appreciates this particular individual.

Notice how God describes this person.

True Humility

God desires for us to be truly humble. Here, God refers to one’s heart and inner man response. Instead of a proud person, God appreciates the humble individual who respects and honors Him above everything else. A person whose spirit is poor, crushed, literally bashed into pieces.

Often the world system and many well-meaning followers of Christ encourage individuals to think highly of oneself. People strive to instill in others a sense of self-esteem, pride, and confidence. Yet, self confidence is not what God looks for in an individual. God desires a simple humility in an individual that faces life with courage and confidence in God.

Graduate, as you receive your respective degrees and diplomas, pride can so easily sneak in the back door of your heart. You can look at the hard work, dedication, and many hours spent as an indication of how good you are, how much you have accomplished, and how you have prepared yourself for the next stage of life. Instead, the humble and contrite person looks at these things as manifestations of God’s grace, provision, and kindness to you. Any accomplishments that you enjoy represent God’s grace to you. He deserves the glory for what you have been able to accomplish. Further, He certainly should be the focus of your future endeavors in humility.

Trembles at God’s Word

The second characteristic of the one to whom God looks emphasizes your position toward God’s Word. God appreciates the individual who honors Him by desiring to follow Him. The idea of trembling at God’s Word refers to what we often call the fear of God. This fear is not being afraid of God; instead, it demonstrates complete respect for God. You might consider this as a reverential awe and deep respect for God, God’s opinion, and God’s position.

When one fears God or trembles at His Word, he or she seeks to know and obey God. Obedience is a significant part of trembling at God’s Word. The humble heart before God says, “What does God enjoy and desire, because that is exactly what I want to do.” To use an automobile example, the person who trembles at God’s Word comes standard with obedience, similar to certain models come standard with various characteristics such as two-wheel drive, etc.

Trembling at God’s Word implies both a respect for everything God has to say, desires, or expects while also striving to live obediently with those things.

Humility and Obedience

Humility and obedience stand together as twin markers for the individual who honors God and lives for His glory.

I bring these both up because I realize that the world system does not highly value either of these characteristics. Few people in the world ask you whether or not you are humble or desire to follow Jesus above all else. Very few.

In this Isaiah text, Israel awaited moving back into the land. They stood at a door of opportunity. As they did, God emphasized that He was more interested in the heart of the individual person rather than simply their actions. This text continues. Since they did not obey God with a humble heart, God describes rejecting their obedience to the sacrificial system as the opposite of what was intended. Isaiah records,

He who kills a bull is as if he slays a man;
He who sacrifices a lamb, as if he breaks a dog’s neck;
He who offers a grain offering, as if he offers swine’s blood;
He who burns incense, as if he blesses an idol. (Isa 66:3)

Should they perform these sacrifices? Absolutely.

Then, why does God reject them and take them as the opposite? Because of the proud heart and haughty obedience.

Graduate, your challenge faces you. Against all the wisdom of the world, you must choose humility over pride. And, in humility, walk in obedience to God as one who longs to know God, honor God, and love God well.