THE SWEET TONE OF HEAVEN

Many things in this world have a tone.  Of course, musical instruments and voices have a tone, but I want us to explore this at even a deeper level.  Scientists have discovered that even newborn babies have some kind of innate ability to lock in on their mother's voice so that it advances speech development and motor skills.  Whereas if that same baby heard the voice of a female nurse saying the exact same tender words, it would only trigger the baby's right side of it's brain for speech recognition only.  

In a huge herd of hundreds of reindeer, a little baby instantly recognizes the voice of it's mother, and the mother knows the tone of her calf.  God has made even the animal kingdom tone sensitive.  

We all know that bad news has a tone to it.  A doctor can look across his desk and say something conclusive about an Xray.  The tone of that bad news can scream in your ears for weeks and months even though the doctors voice was expressionless and sterile.  

How about the tone of a "Dear John" or "Dear Mary" letter when the person you thought loved you gives you the, "It's not you, it's me" line.  It's just a series of letters and words on a piece of paper but the tone cuts your heart to ribbons. 

There is a tone that resonates from earth to heaven and it is sweet beyond words.  It has an aroma like the most exotic, expensive perfume, and it causes mighty angels to bow in awe.  That sound is the tone of humility.  It is the backbone of love and the intimate partner of Truth.  The only time Jesus ever describes Himself is in Matthew 11:29 and He says, "Learn of Me - I am meek and humble."  Humility is the essence of Jesus-ness!  Our culture considers a man proposing to a woman the picture of love.  When he humbles himself by going down on one knee - that's the galant memory a bride will use to remind herself that he really loves me.  The gesture though cliche, is a token of the thing that makes love really love - humility.  

You see it's impossible to be like Jesus or do what Jesus did unless we grab onto the unseen, unheard quality of Jesus' character, which is summed up in His own self-description, "I am humble - now you learn to be like Me."  God is Love and yet Jesus sums up His character under the title of humility.  

Here is an easy but Biblical definition of humility: completely submitted, and in harmony with the Truth.  Think about this, Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life (John 14:6), but He is also the essence of humility.  This should break every notion of what humility is not.  It's not being a doormat or a punching bag.  Humility is not giving up or surrendering to lies and deceit.  Humility is not being 'nice' or tolerant as the world adjusts to an immoral slide into a cultural toilet bowl.  Being humble is being so completely surrendered to the tone of Truth that it doesn't matter what you think or what others think, you still say, "Not my will but Father God's will be done."  

Here's how the tone of humility plays out in real life: just like Jesus, you love the person but are completely intolerant of the sin they're in.  Jesus said to the woman caught in adultery, after delivering her from her executioners, "I don't condemn you.  Now go and sin no more."  That had the tone of mercy and humility.  Sometimes even more difficult is expressing this tone while looking in the mirror.  You must completely love yourself, and yet have zero tolerance for sin in your life.  That is the tone of humility.  

Real humility is joy filled, not down and out.  Humility is always thankful and celebrates even the smallest things, including the pennies.  Yes!  The pennies!  Watch Jesus celebrate the widows two copper coins.  That's a picture of all of heaven dancing over the pennies.  

Humility celebrates with others. Try this ladies: "You look amazing in that dress!"  I know some people that would rather give you a thousand dollars then admit impression or give a compliment.  Humility is excellent at praise and true, acceptable worship to God.  That's because it's sincere and authentic.  God hates lies and insincere worship is nothing but lies to God.  The sweetest sound of praise to God is the tone of humility coming from His son and daughter.   

1 Peter 5:6 says to humble yourself so that God can exalt and promote you.  Humility is the tone of heaven.  It is the tone of love.  Humility is the secret to your future and the only way to be like Jesus - the only way!

Let's pray this amazing prayer together:

Father God, I know Christ lives in me, so I believe the tone of Your love is resonating through me into this world. Your will be done here on earth (Matthew 6:33).  Jesus, I receive the core of Your character and choose to walk in humility like You (Matthew 11:29).  Therefore, I expect Your glory knowing it's the outcome of true worship ... truly being submitted under Your hand (1 Peter 5:6).