"In reality there is perhaps no one of our natural Passions so hard to subdue as pride. Disguise it, struggle with it, beat it down, stifle it, mortify it as much as one pleases, it is still alive, and will every now and then peep out and show itself...For even if I could conceive that I had completely overcome it, I should probably be proud of my humility." - Benjamin Franklinan Can we achieve total freedom from pride and self seeking egotism? This is one of the oldest questions in the school of man’s total deliverance from selfish desires. Whereas total deliverance may be something ahead of us, God does value the steps.
Christ our Model.
The life of Christ is the ultimate model in our journey to humility. Christ lived a life of humility and obedience to the Father. He speaks of his relation to the Father as working for the will of the Father and doing everything by the Father’s empowerment. The son can do nothing of himself (John 5:19). The son does not seek his own glory (John 8:50) but the glory of the one who sent him (John 6:38). As you work towards humility, seek to have this attitude which was in Christ, who, although he existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant (Philippians 2:6-7). Because of this humility, God gave Christ a name which is above every other name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord (Phil 2:9-11).
Friday, November 2, 2007
The Road to Humility
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2 comments:
Humility is often something that we try to describe, but it is more often something we do (or do not do). In this sense, it is counter intutitive to most 21st century, industrialized culture in that it is a value not recognized by awards and noticed and praised by peers, but rather a value of small, incremental steps often unoticed. 'But it is often the countless, unseen details that is the only difference between mediocre and magnificience.'
I see Anonymous' point. How can we reward humility without making her proud?
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