Henderson Hills Baptist Church

God Gives Grace to the Humble

5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.  Philippians 2:5-11 ESV

All week we have shared together about the wonderful gift of humility. It really comes down to this verse, James 4:6, 10 “But He gives more grace. Therefore, it says, ‘God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble’. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you…….Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you.”

Humility does not react to evil by doing evil in return. When someone betrays you, do you respond with forgiveness? When someone gossips about you, do you defend yourself or allow God to be your defender? A truly humble person will realize his place under the authority of God and allow God to protect and defend.

Do you see humility as optional? It truly is not. For most all of us we face days of impatience, times of bad attitudes, conversations of defensiveness, and words of arguments. We have a long way to go many times to be humble. So, where do we start? Where do we go from here?

Beginning this first new week of the New Year in the new decade is a great time to return to the spiritual disciplines that position us to hear more clearly from God. God doesn’t have a clipboard checking off our quiet times each morning; however, as we sit before Him in His Word, we can hear more clearly what He desires of us. Practice the disciplines of Bible Study, prayer, submission, obedience, confession, and worship. As you do, the Holy Spirit will reveal those times that you have lived in pride. Don’t let a day go by without making sure you are feeding yourself spiritually. We don’t skip many meals physically, so too, we should not miss our spiritual diet even more so. Hide God’s Word in your heart this year. A verse stored inside is more easily recalled in times of discouragement, question, doubt, or despair.

I begin my days in gratitude to God for what He has done and is doing in my life. Join me in this spiritual exercise and humbleness will begin to grow. Chop down any root of pride and replace those thoughts with the firm foundation of thinking as Jesus thinks.
May you be humble in 2010 as He is humble.

2 Peter 3:18

Dennis

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