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“Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die,
it abideth alone:but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit..”
John 12:24 (KJV)

I once was placed under a leader who, no matter how hard I tried, I could not do anything that truly met his perfect approval. He believed that I was prideful and in any and every opportunity to do so, he would tear me down both privately and publicly. This particular time was the absolute worse. He accused me of something that I believed in my heart I did not do. I said, “I thought I did it right, but if you said I did it wrong then I am sorry.” He became angry. I went to him publicly to apologize and, in front of the entire audience, he latched out at me yelling, putting me down, comparing me to his assistant, made sure everyone knew I was considered less than, yelled out things he believed I had done wrong, shouted how everyone, including children, are being promoted and that he would never promote me, and then dismissed me.

Still trying to keep my head up, I watched the faces that were in shock, some in pity, and later even observed the assistant trying to contain her laugher. In the midst there were some who were happy and during the latching, shouted some words of their approval. I went back to my seat and went on to my duties. Afterwards as I drove home I could not contain my tears. I got home went into my room and cried out to the Lord, “Why?!!! Why?!!!! Why?!!!” I went to the Word and my Father said, “The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility .” Proverbs 15:33

The next day I took consolation with one of my true Sister's-in Christ. She knew me; she was acquainted with my heart, and knew my love for God and desire to please Him. She was acquainted with the good and the bad and encouraged me in both. I told all that happened and in sorrow I shared the scripture God gave me “The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility.” She immediately responded, “The greater the humility the greater the honor.” I reported for duty that night. Not only did I continue to serve, but I served to the best of my ability.

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die it abideth alone: ”

In the beatitudes Jesus prepared His followers for His kingdom. He taught the disciples a lifestyle radically different from the world's. In Matthew 5:3 (Amp) He said, “Blessed (happy, to be envied, and spiritually prosperous—with life-joy and satisfaction in God's favor and salvation, regardless of their outward conditions) are the poor in spirit (the humble, who rate themselves insignificant), for theirs is the kingdom of heaven!”

[Dictionary.com defines fall - to come or drop down suddenly to a lower position, especially to leave a standing or erect position suddenly, whether voluntarily or not.]

According to the Word, I was actually in a happy, enviable, spiritually prosperous place regardless of how it looked to me, my leader, the assistant, to those who enjoyed what happened, even to those who felt sorry and pitied me. It is one thing to be humbled for something you knowingly did wrong but to be humbled and humiliated for something you believed you did not do, God says this is where He is pleased. 1 Peter 2:18-20.

“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins…” Jeremiah 17:9-10

It does not matter whether my leader was right or wrong, what matters is God knew the haughtiness of my heart, the why I so desperately cried out for, and the place where He needed to humble me. [Charles Stanley once said, “Grace can't live in a pride filled heart.”] But what my leader, the assistant, those who laughed, and those who pitied and more than them, what I did not realize at that very moment, I was a vessel in the loving hands of the Potter being broken and molded for His great use. Jeremiah 18:4 They and even I believed God was punishing me. But only God knew the heart of His servant and the preparation needed to humble me in order for many to be blessed through a vessel of humility. Isaiah 53:10

“…but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit..”

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Tribute to Nelson Mandela who was one who rated himself as insignificant.
July 18, 1918 – December 5, 2013

“He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.” John 12:25

[“During my lifetime I have dedicated myself to this struggle of the African people. I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.” Nelson Mandela]

Nelson Mandela died to himself. He was humiliated and imprisoned for 27 years. But according to the Word he was in a blessed, happy, enviable, spiritual , prosperous, place. In prison he observed his jailers. It was said that there were jailers who buried prisoners up to their necks and would urinate on them. I once read that instead of hating them he thought about what it would take for a man to have to come to work everyday and degrade another man, then go home and try to be loving to his family. Instead of hating them he, in his own way, ministered to them in such a way some of his jailers became his friends and sat at his inauguration banquet. Proverbs 16:7, Psalm 23:5 I can only imagine what God brought Him through in his preparation of coming to a place of such humility. He humbled and died to himself so that others might live. 1 Peter 5:6

If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.” John 12:26

Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela was a Christian, South African anti-apartheid revolutionary, politician, and philanthropist who served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999. Many, Many, Many lives have been changed for the better because of God's instrument of humilty. We pray for his family, friends, countryman and for the fruit that will continue the work that his labor will not be in vain.
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As we continue in this advent season, ask God for a deeper revelation in humility. As with Jesus, He was honored among some as the Messiah and humiliated by some of the same but today is seated at the right hand of our Father ever living to intercede for us and bringing forth much fruit. Philippians 2:5-11

God says, “________________ (insert your name) it is not my desire to destroy you or even to humiliate you but to honor you as one of My very best to be used for My highest purpose. So take comfort in knowing that you were put down to be brought back up to serve in a place where only I know you MUST be led so that many can live and not die.” John 12:27

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