Humility
Humility is not a subject I know enough about yet. I wonder if there are many humans that actually do. Because pride is our biggest problem right? It’s what kept Eve from asking for Adam’s help when being tempted by the Serpent. It’s what had Adam blame shifting when confronted with his sin. It’s what had Cain murdering his brother, and why each generation thereafter had endless strings of people choosing their own way, instead of God’s way. We like our own way. And our way usually means that whatever I think is best right now is what I am going to do. If the fruit looks tasty, then I am going to eat it, if that person is in my way then they need to move or I might just run them over. Perhaps being the one to get run over is exactly what humility feels like… but who ever willingly signs up for that?
What is humility anyway? Do we even know? In Philippians 2: 1-5 we get some of the answer.
“If you find any comfort from being in the Anointed, if His love brings you some encouragement, if you experience true companionship with the Spirit, if His tenderness and mercy fill your heart; then, brothers and sisters, here is one thing that would complete my joy—come together as one in mind and spirit and purpose, sharing in the same love. Don’t let selfishness and prideful agendas take over. Embrace true humility, and lift your heads to extend love to others. Get beyond yourselves and protecting your own interests; be sincere, and secure your neighbors’ interests first. In other words, adopt the mind-set of Jesus the Anointed. Live with His attitude in your hearts. Remember:”
Here are a few quick observations:
We need to find our comfort in Jesus above all things… above our families, above our friends, our finances, above the ease and comfort we find in the Western World.
STOP and actually pray for this right now.
Jesus’ love must be our encouragement… We have to keep His way of loving at the forefront of our minds… and Jesus was always a servant.
STOP and actually pray for this right now.
Have true companionship with the Spirit… this would mean that The Holy Spirit is honored and listened to and obeyed in our lives… Do you know His voice?
STOP and actually pray for this right now.
We need to allow His tenderness and mercy to fill our hearts… heck I am praying that right now over myself believing He will answer it because here we are being asked to allow it.
STOP and actually pray for this right now.
Coming together in unity because we share the same love… residing or abiding in Jesus’ love will help us all be on the same page…
STOP and actually pray for this right now.
Putting aside our own agendas … would take a lot of self-examination, repentance, and confession
STOP and actually pray for this right now.
Embrace humility … by extending love to others… see their needs before you look at your own… it says to lift your head… look around you … be aware… notice… ask the Spirit to show you.
STOP and actually pray for this right now.
Get beyond self-protection … we spend way too much time here… we do it so much we can’t even see when we are about protecting ourselves instead of the weak, poor, and oppressed. More self-examination, confession and repentance.
STOP and actually pray for this right now.
Secure your neighbor’s needs first… whoever God has put in front of you to help… think about them before you think about what you need. How can I feed them, clothe them, minister to their broken heart?
STOP and actually pray for this right now.
Live with Jesus’ attitude in your heart. This is possible through prayer, submitting to the Lord’s purging work, surrendering, and reminding ourselves again and again that we need to live for His good pleasure not our own.
STOP and actually pray for this right now.
Nothing … not one thing on this list is easy to do. Because our pride keeps saying that I come first, and I matter most. Humility may indeed call us to get run over… but we would be in good company … because that is what happened to Jesus. He went to the cross an innocent and perfect man, wearing all of our sin and shame. He hated how it felt, He despised the shame, but He did what the Father asked of Him because the love He has for the Father and us is bigger. I want to learn what it means to live in that kind of humble love. But dang, it hurts, and we have to be willing to suffer, not just physical pain, but suffer in shame thrown at us by others, suffer in obscurity. And most of all, we have to know, that we know, that we know - that our Heavenly Father sees all and what He sees matters more than what people think or feel about us.
Confess and repent of your pride again, actually pray through this passage and ask for the things you lack (because that is how we begin to appropriate the truth!) just like I am doing as I reflect on this passage. And even though my pride will not disappear right this second … if I continue to surrender, submit, worship and ask the Lord to help me, He is going to answer my prayers … because this is His call to us, to be humble like Jesus is humble. This is the kind of prayer He answers every single time… however, be prepared … it’s definitely going to hurt, but also nothing will lead to greater freedom in Christ.