Post by Les on May 11, 2023 9:45:15 GMT -5
LET’S TALK ABOUT HUMILITY:
The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility. (Proverbs 15:33 KJV)
I’ve been posting sporadically a lot lately, the journey ahead has taken much of my thinking and somewhat given me writer’s block. Many times we have such hopes and dreams of accomplishment, but reality doesn’t line up to our expectations. It is at those times we must stop and contemplate where we are in the scheme of God’s plans and purposes for our lives. We need to ask the hard questions that demand our utmost honesty and ulterior motives.
Years ago I started out with a vision of ministry, I thought in many cases that I was doing God’s perfect will, only to find out later that I had been wasting precious time fulfilling my own heart’s desires. But even then God would bless me to a degree, but then He would show me the flaws in my actions and motives. I regret those times I missed the mark, but am so glad that with each failure there was a lesson to be learned. I am still growing in this grace which has been allotted me through the blood of Jesus.
Today is a time or season to seek humility, and being honest with ourselves is a great step in that direction. Why? Because when we are honest with ourselves, we will be honest in approaching God in prayer, in praise, and in worship. Truth cleanses our conscious and renders us humble in the presence of God and others. When we do not put on airs of deception concerning ourselves we can present ourselves humbling but confident before our Lord.
I’ve learned some of the pitfalls of pride, Here is a definition I found concerning the what the Lord calls the pride of life. “ The word pride occurs in 1st John 2:16 and James 4:16 on which see note. It means, originally, empty, braggart talk or display; swagger; and thence an insolent and vain assurance in one's own resources, or in the stability of earthly things, which issues in a contempt of divine laws. The vainglory of life is the vainglory which belongs to the present life.”
The pride of life is in direct opposition to the fruit of humility. Pride is self-dependent while humility is divinely dependent. Many times when we engage in even a good thing, the ulterior motive is deceptively self exaltation. But when we are cleansed of all vainglory of life, we exalt God in all we do, we are just obedient servants doing what is required of us to do.
(5) Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?
(6) But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
(7) Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
(8) Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
(9) Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.
(10) Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up. James 4:5-10 KJV
Pride comes from the Prince of Pride, the Devil himself, it is the first form of rebellion which drives one to usurp the Lordship of our God in our lives. It must be resisted and defeated through complete submission to the Lord. Because the Spirit which He has caused to dwell in our hearts yearns very jealously over us. We cannot move forward with any real progress until we acknowledge, confess, and repent of our pride motivated works, especially when we see how empty and unfulfilling they really make us.
Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is humility. (Proverbs 18:12 KJV)
We must have the honor of honesty, before we can truly maintain humility. Meekness is not a sign of weakness, but to the contrary a virtue of great fortitude.
By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life. (Proverbs 22:4 KJV)
Brethren keep the faith today by seeking the face of God in Spirit and Truth, searching yourselves to see if anything is lacking or anything is hindering your ability to walk in the virtue of humility. Then ask God to expose anything that is hidden to your cognitive conscious so that you may acknowledge it, confess it, and repent of it. You’ll be glad to get that weigh off your shoulders and progress in the will of the Lord. Selah!
Shalom, Agape, and Amen!
D. R. Ritchie
The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility. (Proverbs 15:33 KJV)
I’ve been posting sporadically a lot lately, the journey ahead has taken much of my thinking and somewhat given me writer’s block. Many times we have such hopes and dreams of accomplishment, but reality doesn’t line up to our expectations. It is at those times we must stop and contemplate where we are in the scheme of God’s plans and purposes for our lives. We need to ask the hard questions that demand our utmost honesty and ulterior motives.
Years ago I started out with a vision of ministry, I thought in many cases that I was doing God’s perfect will, only to find out later that I had been wasting precious time fulfilling my own heart’s desires. But even then God would bless me to a degree, but then He would show me the flaws in my actions and motives. I regret those times I missed the mark, but am so glad that with each failure there was a lesson to be learned. I am still growing in this grace which has been allotted me through the blood of Jesus.
Today is a time or season to seek humility, and being honest with ourselves is a great step in that direction. Why? Because when we are honest with ourselves, we will be honest in approaching God in prayer, in praise, and in worship. Truth cleanses our conscious and renders us humble in the presence of God and others. When we do not put on airs of deception concerning ourselves we can present ourselves humbling but confident before our Lord.
I’ve learned some of the pitfalls of pride, Here is a definition I found concerning the what the Lord calls the pride of life. “ The word pride occurs in 1st John 2:16 and James 4:16 on which see note. It means, originally, empty, braggart talk or display; swagger; and thence an insolent and vain assurance in one's own resources, or in the stability of earthly things, which issues in a contempt of divine laws. The vainglory of life is the vainglory which belongs to the present life.”
The pride of life is in direct opposition to the fruit of humility. Pride is self-dependent while humility is divinely dependent. Many times when we engage in even a good thing, the ulterior motive is deceptively self exaltation. But when we are cleansed of all vainglory of life, we exalt God in all we do, we are just obedient servants doing what is required of us to do.
(5) Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?
(6) But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
(7) Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
(8) Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
(9) Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.
(10) Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up. James 4:5-10 KJV
Pride comes from the Prince of Pride, the Devil himself, it is the first form of rebellion which drives one to usurp the Lordship of our God in our lives. It must be resisted and defeated through complete submission to the Lord. Because the Spirit which He has caused to dwell in our hearts yearns very jealously over us. We cannot move forward with any real progress until we acknowledge, confess, and repent of our pride motivated works, especially when we see how empty and unfulfilling they really make us.
Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is humility. (Proverbs 18:12 KJV)
We must have the honor of honesty, before we can truly maintain humility. Meekness is not a sign of weakness, but to the contrary a virtue of great fortitude.
By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life. (Proverbs 22:4 KJV)
Brethren keep the faith today by seeking the face of God in Spirit and Truth, searching yourselves to see if anything is lacking or anything is hindering your ability to walk in the virtue of humility. Then ask God to expose anything that is hidden to your cognitive conscious so that you may acknowledge it, confess it, and repent of it. You’ll be glad to get that weigh off your shoulders and progress in the will of the Lord. Selah!
Shalom, Agape, and Amen!
D. R. Ritchie