HUMILITY AS ATTRIBUTE

HUMILITY AS ATTRIBUTE

Tuesday, August 29, 2017

John MKJV 1:1-5 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.  All things came into being through Him, and without Him not even one thing came into being that has come into being. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overtake it.

Romans 12:1-3 I beseech you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, pleasing to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, in order to prove by you what is that good and pleasing and perfect will of God. For I say, through the grace given to me, to every one who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think. But set your mind to be right-minded, even as God has dealt to every man the measure of faith.

  When pride in self, ethnicity, family, nation, accomplishments et al is epidemic habit, then humility is dead. At any given moment we walk in pride or humility, there being no neutrality or meld. Just thinking myself humble I am proud. But what is humility? Is the trait recognizable? Is there a model to follow? Is it possible to gain humility?

  The answer to these questions in summed up in one word, actually “WORD”, Jesus.

  Jesus, among all that He is, is the embodiment of humility, our only true complete example: “[Christ Jesus] Although he was in the form of God and equal with God, he did not take advantage of this equality. Instead, he emptied himself by taking on the form of a servant, by becoming like other humans, by having a human appearance. He humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, death on a cross.” (GW Phil.2:6-8)

  Following Jesus’ model does not come natural to man for we are born proud in nature, sinful in spirit from our very conception. (Ps.51:5)

  Christian or not, we cannot adapt our old nature to be humble, for humility is detestable to our natural man. (1Cor.2:14) To attempt accomplishing a semblance of humility through adaptation is naught but reformation; putting a fine new suit of clothes on the wretched old man; a poorly constructed cloth that wears disappointingly. (Mt.9:16-17; Rom.6:6; Eph.4:22-24; Col.3:9-10)

  Christian may manifest Christ-like humility in and by his regenerate man; regeneration being we, the old suit of clothes gaining new man within. (2Cor.5:17)

  Is it possible to acquire and sustain humility? Indeed it is doable (Mt.5:48), but how so?

  Identify and confess for what I am, a proud man, repent and exalt He Supremely Meek (Mt.11:29), and humility comes; not by our doing, but by submissive removal in agreeing with God and living in and by His grace. (Rom.6:1-14; 12:1-3)

  “The Word of life existed from the beginning. We have heard it. We have seen it. We observed and touched it. This life was revealed to us. We have seen it, and we testify about it. We are reporting to you about this eternal life that was in the presence of the Father and was revealed to us. This is the life we have seen and heard. We are reporting about it to you also so that you, too, can have a relationship with us. Our relationship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. We are writing this so that we can be completely filled with joy. This is the message we heard from Christ and are reporting to you: God is light, and there isn't any darkness in him. If we say, "We have a relationship with God" and yet live in the dark, we're lying. We aren't being truthful. But if we live in the light in the same way that God is in the light, we have a relationship with each other. And the blood of his Son Jesus cleanses us from every sin. If we say, "We aren't sinful" we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us. God is faithful and reliable. If we confess our sins, he forgives them and cleanses us from everything we've done wrong. If we say, "We have never sinned," we turn God into a liar and his Word is not in us.” (GW 1Jn.1:1-10) 

  God will bless richly as we leave applauding self and exalt Him.  EBB4

    

Afterthought: When we read Christian devotion, commentary, or book but don’t look up that which is of higher value, Scripture references, it is manifestation of personal pride. How so? Because we are demonstrating that my time is more important than The Word and His eternity to which we lay claim. This I learned by Holy Spirit convicting experience.