Part 3 of 11: The Fruits/ Proofs of Authentic/ True Christianity
Genuine Humility:
Easton’s Bible Dictionary defines Humility as “a prominent
Christian grace (Rom. 12:3; 15:17, 18; 1 Cor. 3:5–7; 2 Cor. 3:5; Phil.
4:11–13). It is a state of mind well
pleasing to God (1 Pet. 3:4); it preserves the soul in tranquility (Ps. 69:32,
33), and makes us patient under trials (Job 1:22). Christ has set us an example of humility
(Phil. 2:6–8). We should be led thereto by a remembrance of our sins (Lam.
3:39), and by the thought that it is the way to honor (Prov. 16:18), and that
the greatest promises are made to the humble (Ps. 147:6; Isa. 57:15; 66:2; 1
Pet. 5:5). It is a great paradox in
Christianity that it makes humility the avenue to glory.”[1]
Additionally, the term is closely connected in
derivation with affliction, which is sometimes brought upon men by their
fellows, and sometimes attributed directly to the purpose of God, but is always
calculated to produce humility of spirit.[2]
Psalm 51:16-17 ESV
For you will not
delight in sacrifice, or I would give it;
you
will not be pleased with a burnt offering.
The sacrifices of
God are a broken spirit;
a
broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.
David was a man after God’s own heart (1 Sam. 13:14, Acts 13:21),
yet he committed horrible sins, such as adultery with Bathsheba and murdering
her husband (2 Sam. 11-12). Psalm 51 is David’s
prayer for forgiveness for this sin against God and man.
Now, these two verses are not a denial of sacrificial system, which
by the way the Law did not have a sacrifice for adultery or murder only of sins
committed out of ignorance, but a demonstration that a proper sacrifice is
humility and brokenness. And as we know,
the Lord did accept David’s plea for forgiveness and used him for many mighty
works and more importantly the lineage of Jesus.
For us today, the issue of humility is important in both everyday
living and when we mess things up. For
everyday living, see Romans 12:1-2 which talks about a living sacrifice which
has to deal with humility (broken spirit and heart- look back in Ps. 51:16-17). One of the worst things people can say when a
trial or tribulation comes up for somebody else is that they caused it
themselves, unless they did- such as an affair leading to a divorce, etc. When I was going through Leukemia not one
person said he must have some serious sin… and I thank the Lord for that
because I have noticed that a lot of issues (miscarriages, loss of a job, serious
illness, etc.) that Christians go through are not because of sin but because we
must be broken to fully realize that the power by which live is from the Lord
and not of ourselves.
Therefore, if we want to be used powerfully by the Lord we must
learn to live a lifestyle of humility.
There will be times in our lives where we have a choice to accept brokenness
or become bitter. When we accept
brokenness and look to Him for our power in all aspects of life, we give him
more Glory and have a fuller life here on Earth.
May the Lord Bless and Keep You!
No comments:
Post a Comment