Purify Your Mind Series (Part 2) by Joe KirbySample

The Most Humbling Verse in the Bible

A quiz on the Internet asks, “What animal are you?” What would you choose? A strong bear? A loyal dog? A brave lion? A cute dolphin? The choice for many of us may reflect the over-inflated view we have of ourselves. But how does God see us?

In Isaiah 41:14, we see God speaking gently, not harshly, to the people of Israel, but He refers to them as a worm. That’s how insignificant and weak people are compared to the living God. Like a worm on a path on a sunny day, so vulnerable, so easily trodden on. You may feel like that worm, so weak in the battle against lust. But the beautiful truth of the Bible is that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, loved us enough to die on the cross to redeem “worms” like you and me.

The word “worm” in Isaiah can also be translated “scarlet material.” Coincidentally, there is a creature called the scarlet (or crimson) worm. This particular worm is unique because when it gives birth it ties its tail to a tree, lays its eggs, and dies. As it dies, it secretes a crimson dye that stains the wood a bright red. The color produced by this worm is so vibrant it was once used as a dye for clothing.

This reminds us of Christ, who was willing to be trodden on for our sin, who, just like the crimson worm, stained the wood of the cross scarlet, dying to give us life. The great God of the universe was willing to be treated no better than a worm, so that He might redeem you. The least we can do in return is seek to serve Him obediently each day.