Humility
Humility is not to think of myself above others. It is having a spirit of submission and deference and to honor others above myself. Humility is to think of myself as a servant of others, to know and understand Jesus’ message that “in that ye have done it unto the least of these, my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” This is the attitude of Jesus Christ himself, who made himself of no reputation and was made in the likeness of men. He humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even unto the death of the cross.
Paul, like Jesus, saw himself not as a leader of men, but as a slave, and a servant of those whom God had called him to minister. As a bond slave of Jesus Christ our greatest blessing is serving our master from the bond of love. Jesus said, he that is chiefest among you must be servant and slave of all. A slave does nothing except that which his master commands. His heart’s desire is to do his master’s will… Not my will but thine be done… thy wish is my command.
After Jesus had been in the desert fasting for forty days, he was tempted by the devil. The adversary confronts men of God at their weakest point. Humility to God is the key to resisting the devil. According to E.M. Bounds, humility retreats from public gaze and never exalts itself in the eyes of others… there is no self praise in humility, but humility prefers to praise others… humility is characterized by a modest heart, a heart that lives to serve others and in so doing, to serve his master… Blessed are they who humble themselves. According to Matthew 5:3, Blessed are poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
The Lord opposes the proud but gives grace unto the humble. Why is God opposed to pride and those who are boastful in themselves? A proud heart is the motivation that caused satan himself to fall, having been lifted up with pride. This was how the adversary deceived Eve in the garden of Eden… His lie to her appealed to her pride: “Ye shall be as God, knowing good from evil.”
In God’s presence, Isaiah saw his own shortcomings and was humbled when confronted with the holiness of God. He said I am a man of unclean lips… Isaiah 6:3
Humility is the prerequisite to entering into the presence of God. The Pharisee thought that God would hear him for his boasting and his eloquence of speech. However, God resisteth the proud and gives grace to the humble. The Pharisee prayed, “God I’m thankful that I’m better than those sinners over there.” However, The tax gather, hated by the world, prayed “Lord have mercy on me a sinner.” Whose prayer did God hear? Humility is the requirement before God can hear my prayer. Therefore, Lord, humble my heart under the mighty hand of God… Not my will, but thine be done.
Humility is required before repentance. I must first turn from myself in order to turn unto God. The wisdom of the Word is the opposite of the wisdom of this world. The goal of life is not self aggrandizement… it is not the profit motive to enrich myself at the expense of living for him in whom I live and move and have my being. Competition and winning in the eyes of the world is the exact opposite of victory in the eyes of God. Victory is only in Christ… to be not overcome of evil, but to overcome evil with good. Victory is to glory in him and not in my own vain glory. The essence of love is to think no evil… to rejoice not in iniquity, but to rejoice in the truth.
To change a culture, we as men of God must humble our hearts and submit ourselves under the mighty hand of God. As a band of brothers, we must walk hand in hand with our Lord Jesus Christ, whose hand was pierced by the nails of my sin and iniquity… Wherefore God has exhaulted him, He having paid the price for your sin and mine. He who knew no sin was made the perfect sin sacrifice for us, that we who were dead in trespasses and sins may be made the righteousness of God in him.
Humility is to humble myself… The sacrifice unto the Lord is a broken and a contrite spirit. O Lord, Thou art the potter, I am the clay. Mold me and make me after thy will, while I am broken, yielded and still.
May God richly bless you,
Your brother in Christ,
Michael