John Stanko | On September 10, 2015

Moses and Joshua in the Tabernacle (c. 1896-1902)
(Painted by James Jacques Joseph Tissot)

“The Lord sustains the humble but casts the wicked to the ground”

– Psalm 147:6.

God loves and cares for the humble, those people who are not proud and who recognize their need for the Lord. The humble do not take matters into their own hands, but rather trust Him to provide for, protect and defend them. Humility is an attitude, and Mary, Jesus’ mother, spoke of its importance and Jesus addressed the implications of those who have and do not have this attitude. First, look at what Mary said: “He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble” (Luke 1:52). Then here is what Jesus had to say: “For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted” (Luke 14:11). The important thing to remember is that you control this attitude and determine whether you fit into the proud or humble category. Do you need to adjust your attitude today? Do you need to humble yourself before the Lord, or someone else? Is there an area of your life where arrogance and rudeness prevail? If the answer is “yes,” then you need to correct that or else the Lord will.

Today’s reading – Psalms 146-150

John Stanko

John Stanko was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and attended Duquesne University where he received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in economics in 1972 and 1974 respectively.

Since then, John has served as an administrator, teacher, consultant, author, and pastor in his professional career. He holds a second master’s degree in pastoral ministries, and earned his Doctor of Ministry from Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary in Pittsburgh in 2011.

John founded a personal and leadership development company, called PurposeQuest, in 2001 and today travels the world to speak, consult and inspire leaders and people everywhere. From 2001-2008, he spent six months a year in Africa and still enjoys visiting and working on that continent, while teaching for Geneva College’s Masters of Organizational Leadership and the Center for Urban Biblical Ministry in his hometown of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Most recently, John founded Urban Press, a publishing service designed to tell stories of the city, from the city and to the city.