September 24

Greatness in lowliness

“But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men” (Phil. 2:7).
“He humbled himself, and became obedient unto death” (Phil. 2:8).

When the Holy Guest abides within, the soul does not shun the way of the Cross, or seek great things for itself. It is content to serve in lowly as in lofty ways, in obscure and hidden places as in open and conspicuous places where waits applause. To wash a poor disciple’s feet is as great a joy as to command an army, to follow as to lead, to serve as to rule—when the Holy Guest abides within the soul. Then the soul does not contend for or grasp and hold fast to place and power.


When after having been a Methodist pastor, I joined the Salvation Army; in the Training College I was set to black the boots of ignorant Cadets. I was tempted to feel it was a dangerous waste of my time, for which my Lord might hold me to account as He did the man who buried his talent, instead of putting it out at usury. Then the Holy Guest whispered to me of Jesus, and pointed me to Him washing the weary and soiled feet of His lowly disciples, and as I saw Jesus, I was content. Any service for Him and His lowly ones, instead of abasing, exalted me.
—Samuel Logan Brengle.

Think not too highly of thyself, O man!
’Tis but one little thing thou hast to do;
Then if He find thee diligent and true,
New tasks await thee and a wider span.
Perhaps a better knowledge of the plan
Of that great web on which thy hands have wrought.
And be not thou too lowly in thy thought;
No man before thee, since the world began,
Could do the work that lies upon thy loom;
If thou neglect or slight it, it is loss
To all the world, in all the time to come.
What is thy kinship to the Savior worth
If thou demean thee as the sons of earth:
And what if Jesus had despised His cross?

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