We are in desperate need of humility.
The evidence of pride in our society mounts as we become increasingly hostile towards one another. Quick to find fault with the beliefs and choices of others, we verbalize our criticism with sharp, caustic words that create division. We value our opinion more than understanding.
Regardless of which side of the moral, political, or cultural fence you’re on, the goal is to reset society’s compass to match our personal perspective. And we’re willing to cancel, unfriend and block anyone who refuses to do so. We’re willing to do almost anything to prove our point. Pride and arrogance have destroyed our unity and is slowing choking the life out of our society.
Yes, we are in desperate need of humility.
However, we can only live in true humility with others when we first live humbled before God. And, it’s only when we live humbled before God that we recognize our desperate need for humility with others.
To be humble in its truest sense is to be poor in spirit and utterly dependent on God. It’s realizing we are and have nothing on our own and are in desperate need of God for everything. Humility realizes that in every thing and in every way, we need Him.
More than an outward demonstration, humility is the position of the heart. It is bowing the mind, will and emotions before God in acute awareness that He is God and we are not. It’s understanding He unmeasurably transcends us in every aspect of our existence and choosing to become dependent on Him for everything; even the things we think we know how to do. Things we’ve done a million times before.
To live humbly before God means we live completely under Holy Spirit’s influence because we know His knowledge is superior to ours and is perfect in all of His ways. And in our humility, we move Him to the center of our being and He becomes the foundation of our lives. With Him as our foundation, we build upon Him at His direction because we know, apart from Him, we can do nothing. (John 15:5) We yield ourselves so completely that we come into alignment with His heart and live in oneness with Him.
And it’s in this place that we begin to understand the heart of God.
As we grow in understanding, we begin to take on His perspective. We begin to see through His eyes, hear with His ears and feel with His heart. This enables us to see others from the correct perspective and the results are we value them, and their thoughts, even in our disagreements. This empowers us to bow before them and serve them with love and kindness, even in our differences.
This position of humility before others is critical because it’s the goodness and kindness of God, often displayed through us, that draws those who do not know Jesus to repentance. (Romans 2:4) It breeds love and creates unity between brothers and sisters in Christ. And God’s love flowing through us brings reconciliation and healing – even where differences remain.
Oh Father, we pray, may this attitude be in us because we are in desperate need of humility.
Philippians 2:5-8 (NLT) You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.
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