During the Civil War, someone reported to Abraham Lincoln that Edwin Stanton, one of the President’s cabinet members, had referred to him as a fool. Mr. Lincoln replied, “Well, I must check into that, for I have found that he is usually correct in his judgments.”

One of the reasons Abraham Lincoln is widely regarded as one of the best presidents in American history is because of his humility. Lincoln was able to marry thick skin (a must for any public leader, especially one who leads through tenuous times) with a sensitive heart. He didn’t take himself too seriously and acknowledged quickly when he made mistakes. Maybe most importantly, Lincoln led with a high degree of self-awareness combined with an orientation to serve others. He was a humble giant.

We’re two weeks into our new teaching series, “Surprised by Joy,” exploring Paul’s explosive letter to the Philippians (if you missed yesterday’s service, view it here!). This coming weekend, we’ll be diving into one of the most beautifully-constructed texts in all of Scripture, Philippians 2:1-11, a tour de force on the importance of humility in the Christian life. It turns out that Lincoln’s humility is only a dim hint compared to the humility we see in Christ. Can’t wait to learn about how, by God’s grace, we can grow in this virtue, together!

Matt

P.S. There is still time to jump into Help for Heroes, our initiative to come alongside and support the healthcare community right now. Specifically, I would love for you to consider signing up to pray at 7am and 7pm (the time that most local hospitals change shifts) for God to provide ongoing strength, wisdom, and comfort. It’s one way we can be reaching our community during these challenging days.