A Lesson in Humilty

I have been thinking often about the need for every believer to cultivate humility! While the tendency to become prideful may be more prevalent in some as opposed to all, we all in some way want to believe that we have a right to have some pride. When we excel, most of us receive praise from others or our self about our great ability. Another possibility is that we recognize that this ability is a blessing from God but our pride shows up thinking, in some twisted way, that God is choosing to bless us rather than someone else because of our merit or favor with Him! Paul does a great job in Philippians at rebuking our twisted thoughts. See below:

2Watch out for those dogs, those men who do evil, those mutilators of the flesh. 3For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh— 4though I myself have reasons for such confidence.
If anyone else thinks he has reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; 6as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for legalistic righteousness, faultless.

7But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. 10I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead. (Philippians 3:2-11, NIV)

If anyone had reason to boast, it was Paul! He followed the law to a T and did it perfectly by human standards. But the Lord, in his infinite wisdom, provided Paul with a thorn in his flesh to cultivate humility! Take time to do things that will cultivate humility in your life. Men-play golf, Women-give birth! Kids-Walk around the mall with your parents! All joking aside, the way you battle the tendency to become prideful is to actively seek ways to develop humility. Likewise, the way to stay pure from sin is to meditate and live according to His word! (Psalm 119:9-16)

May it be our only goal, to be found IN CHRIST, not having a righteousness of our own coming from the law, but the imputed righteousness only available through Christ, because of His perfect life and his atonement on our behalf accomplished through the cross! To Him be the glory forever and ever, Amen!

By His Grace...