1 Peter 5
If some of you know me well, you'll know that one of my all-time life-changing verses speaks about being humble, and how that has rocked my world many times over. I'm telling you (and myself) right now that if you want God to move in you and in your life, seek humility... get down on the floor, flat on your face, and humble yourself before God.
"God opposes the proud..." Ever thought about what a life would look like if The Almighty God is in opposition to it? Could anything really succeed? Would there be any fruit in one's labor, or in one's life in general? I have a picture in my mind of a child pushing with all his might to get somewhere and God's parent-like hand on his forehead, stopping the child from moving even an inch. The actions of the child might be for very noble purposes, but God is in opposition to him and his desires simply because of the pride in the child's heart. How can we expect to succeed in anything, either getting what we want or finding satisfaction in what we get, if God opposes us? We will meet frustration after frustration until, hopefully, we get to the point where we fall to the floor in exhaustion and give in. That kind of humility comes the hard way, so wouldn't it be best to fall to the floor first?
"... but gives grace to the humble." The humble don't necessarily have an easy way of it either, but at least God is not opposing them. And they have this one all-powerful factor in their life: GRACE. What's so special about grace? It is all the goodness we can receive, all the provision, all the gifts, culminating in the most awesome display of grace this world has ever seen: Jesus dying for us. It is God FOR us. It is rest, peace and joy in the midst of any circumstance. Who wouldn't want that?
The price? Your pride.
So my question today is, what does your pride look like? If you want to make some sort of progress in your life, first look to see if your pride is causing God to place roadblocks in front of you. Pride is one of Satan's favorite tools, and he loves to hide it from us, masking it or justifying it with some dignifying term, so it won't be an easy search. But if that first step in removing your pride is a humble one, God will help you through it. "Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts."
For added help, there is another passage that goes so well with today's reading (and uses the same quote from Proverbs!): James 4:1-10.
Join with me in this act of surrendering pride and seeking humility. Trust me, it will rock our world.
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Humility
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
Back when Byron and I were first married, we weren't ready for kids and at the time, I couldn't understand why people wanted to have kids other than fulfill something void inside them for their own selfish purpose. Now, of course, time has gone on and we grew up and have had Owen and were prepared for him to arrive. Little did I know that God would teach me why he gave a child to me. He wanted to change me. He wanted to humble me. I am learning that I must become exactly what I want my child(ren) to become. verse 3: "not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being EXAMPLES to the flock". I guess that I was prideful thinking that I had it all figured out, even if I didn't always act it out. But I am finding that I have so much more to learn. Just in the last day or so, I have found that how I act toward Byron must be how I want my child(ren) to act towards me. If I ask my child to do something, he/she may not say "Why?"(because mommy said so) and they need to respond respectfully and look me in the eye when they respond. They should respond willingly and then can have a godly appeal (although the appeal may get rejected). These things are huge and I am not doing them and am convicted to do them. Obviously, Owen isn't old enough for several things yet. However, what better time than NOW for me to start learning and putting into practice? I am sure that I will be asking lots and lots of forgiveness, but I must press on....
I find that the world's viewpoint of building up self-esteem has a tendency to drain all humbleness out of people. I find that when I am down I tend to build myself up by telling myself that I am worth something, that I am special...etc. The thruth that I have been trying to practice is that I am worth nothing. My life is nothing without Christ. All that I try to do is worth nothing and is pointless without the touch of God on it. Through the greatness of God, we find our worth.
Post a Comment