Lately God seems to
be focusing my attention on the theme of humility. I wrote some about this back
in November, but it has returned to center stage. Recently I read in Dennis
Jernigan’s book Daily Devotions for Kingdom Seekers: “Humility keeps us supple and pliable
in the hands of the Master Potter.” Not too long after that I started reading Andrew
Murray’s book Humility. He wrote:
“Let him consider how all lack of love; all disregard for the needs, feelings, and weakness of others; all sharp and hasty judgments and words, so often excused under the plea of being outright and honest; all manifestations of temper, touchiness, and irritation; all feelings of bitterness and estrangement, have their root in nothing but pride, that only seeks itself.”
That really puts a point on things. Really thinking about
the reasons behind our experiences of judgment, irritation, and frustration can
reveal the painful truth of indwelling pride. We all tend to think our own
time, work, abilities, and beliefs are more important or better than those of
other people.
Murray goes on to say:
“…self has nothing good in it, except as an empty vessel which God must fill. Its claim to be or do anything may not for a moment be allowed. It is in this, above and before everything, in which the conformity to Jesus exists, the being and doing nothing of ourselves, that God may be all.”
We must be emptied of self in order to be filled with
Christ.
“The root of all goodness and grace, of all faith and acceptable worship, is that we know we have nothing but what we receive, and bow in deepest humility to wait upon God for it.”
All good gifts that we have come from God. Why then do we
boast (even if it is just inwardly) about what we have received (1 Cor. 4:7)?
“If humility is the root of the tree [as seen in Jesus], its nature must be seen in every branch, leaf, and fruit.”
We are to be abiding in Christ, and He embodied humility
(Phil. 2:5-8), so we too should exemplify humility if we are being conformed to
His image (Rom. 8:29).
“If we learn that to be nothing before God is the glory of the creature, we will welcome with our whole heart the discipline we may have in serving even those who annoy or irritate us... No place will be too low, no stooping too deep, and no service too miserable or lengthy, if we simply have the opportunity to share and experience the fellowship with Him who spoke, ‘I am among you as he that serves’ (Luke 22:27).”
Perhaps I’m the only one, but I know that pride is something
that trips me up frequently. Yet humility doesn’t come from working harder to
be humble. It comes only from focusing less on myself and more on my Savior.
The more I seek Him and endeavor to obey what He calls me to do, the less I
will be concerned about what anyone else may say or do or think about me.
“For by the grace
given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly
than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the
measure of faith that God has assigned” (Romans 12:3 ESV).
© 2018 Dawn
Rutan. Unless otherwise indicated all images are copyright free from
pixabay.com.
