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Humility

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I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
(Ephesians 4:1-3)

Humility is a high mark of the Christian. Once saved, we know that everything in life is a gift of grace. There should be no room for pride. The Greek word for humility that Paul uses is ταπεινοφροσύνη (tapeinophrosynē). This noun is defined as the state of having a “humble opinion of one’s self,” a “deep sense of one’s moral littleness,” or “lowliness of mind.”

Elsewhere, in Romans 12:3, he writes:

“For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.”

It’s a curious way to exhort us to remain gracious and humble, isn’t it? Notice that Paul begins with “by the grace given to me.” His exhortation flows out of the very grace he received himself! He knows that the Christian life is a life that is received by grace and it remains as so. It begins in humility before God, and it continues in that same spirit of humility—toward God and toward others.

Paul also calls us to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace, and he pleads with eagerness (Ephesians 4:3). His words indicate that the church ought to make a real effort to keep this unity. We ought to focus on the things that truly matter: walking in a manner worthy of the calling to which we have been called. By grace, let us do so.

Jesus was the greatest example of this humility. I love these words from Jonathan Edwards on the subject:

“Let all be exhorted earnestly to seek much of a humble spirit, and to endeavor to be humble in all their behavior toward God and men. Seek for a deep and abiding sense of your comparative meanness before God and man.

Know God. Confess your nothingness and ill-desert before Him. Distrust yourself. Rely only on God. Renounce all glory except from Him. Yield yourself heartily to His will and service.

Avoid an aspiring, ambitious, ostentatious, assuming, arrogant, scornful, stubborn, wilful, levelling, self-justifying behaviour. And strive for more and more of the humble spirit that Christ manifested while He was on earth.

Consider the many motives to such a spirit. Humility is the most essential and distinguishing trait of all true piety. It is the attendant of every grace, and in a peculiar manner tends to the purity of Christian feeling. It is the ornament of the spirit.

It is the source of some of the sweetest exercises of Christian experience. It is the most acceptable sacrifice we can offer to God. It is the subject of the richest of His promises. It is the spirit with which He will dwell on earth, and which He will crown with glory in heaven hereafter.

Earnestly, then, and diligently and prayerfully cherish, a humble spirit, and God shall walk with you here below. And when a few more days shall have passed, He will receive you to the honours bestowed on His people at Christ’s right hand.”

–Jonathan Edwards, Charity and Its Fruits (Carlisle, PA: Banner of Truth), 155-156.

Recommended resource from the BLB bookstore: Humility: The Journey Toward Holiness by Andrew Murray

Comments

  1. Humility seems to be a missing adornment in the life of believers. Many will flock to hear about prophecy, Holy Ghost power, church growth, and marketing methods, but few would attend a seminar on how to wash feet, get smaller, prefer others, and like Jesus, “make ourselves of no reputation,” Phil. 2:7. To be unknown to the world, and yet known in the courts of heaven is preferred above all honors, all titles, and all accomplishments recognized by men on this side of glory. May we hear the Master say, “well done, good and faithful servant.”

  3. I am truly moved my this message of humility. As I study the various aspects of abnormal psychology in the undergraduate program, I recognize the cure for many of these illnesses lie in the Word of the Precious Father. So often I find myself in situations that can be easily prevented, remedied, or handled in a more worthy manner. I read this passage and I am truly led to do better by the precious Savior, I am moved to move in manner worthy of the cause ordained for me and I am so blessed to know that salvation has been available to me and is made available despite my failings. The heavenly Father has certainly used blueletterbible.org to cultivate righteousness and sew the seeds necessary to bring forth a pleasing garden of a SoulJah for Jehovah through Christ. I yearn for integrity and humility is definitely a good start.

  4. Our spirit lead journey here at the blessed Blueletter Bible Blog.

    While reading the short messages each day and going to the scripture I am moved just how perfect the timing is of the messages we share.

    While looking up sources related to this thread I found some real inspiration here. So oft it can be our lot as Christians to fall prey to the holier than thou syndrome and forget our first love the Great Lord God Almighty.

    My denomination of which I was born and raised far too often is centered around the negative part of Calvinism… orthodoxy.

    From a site I found after reading this thread.

    Tentmaker
    Does Calvinism Bring Peace of Mind?
    http://www.tentmaker.org/articles/once_saved_always_saved_slagle.html

    “…Healing is still happening, too! It is happening because I now know My Heavenly Father is a Restorer at heart, and He is NOT a rubbisher of people. That deep and settled knowledge has freed me to focus on Him, to focus on learning how to hear His still, small voice and on learning what pleases Him. My focus is no longer fixed on whether or not I am “truly” in the elect—-or if my loved ones are truly in the elect. Like David of old, I now can sing of God’s judgments, and I can hope in them, too. I KNOW His judgments are rooted in His mercy, and that His tender mercies are over ALL of His works, and all of His works shall praise Him. (Ps.62:12; 145:9-10) Paul is right. It is in “this” hope of universal salvation that I definitely am being saved, restored and healed. (Rom.8:19-24) …”
    …
    “…Our commission is to put on the mind of Christ, the humility of a guileless, self-emptying, self-giving servant. We are to love our neighbors, both friends and foes, as we love ourselves. We who have been privileged (by no merit of our own) to act as firstborn priests in our Good Father’s household must ALSO remember our responsibilities. In all things we are called to adopt the same mindset as that of our Elder Brother, Jesus Christ–especially when it comes to loving our lost brothers and sisters. What is our Lord’s mindset? “He will not fail or become discouraged until He has established justice (salvation!) in the EARTH.” (Not in bits of the earth! Isa.42)

    We CAN adopt that mindset when we know beyond all question that our Savior is committed to us. We can do it with exuberant joy! That is because we know God is working His good pleasure and grand purpose for TOTAL UNIVERSAL VICTORY in and though us. That is how “all things” are working together for our good! (Rom.8:28) What could be for our highest good—-and honor!–other than to be Christ’s healing hands extended until ALL CREATION adores Him?…”

    God wants us to be His first fruits.

    “… Tragedy that it would be, even if we fail to make our calling and election sure, (to reign with Christ as world-reconcilers) God’s word gives us assurance that our Good Shepherd and Elder Brother will restore us again in due season, just as He restored Peter who denied Him. He is no respecter of persons! So He will restore us just as faithfully as He will restore Israel, which has VEHEMENTLY denied Him for twenty centuries. For He works ALL THINGS after the counsel of His will. (Jer.50:5, Rom.11:26-29, Ezk.37, Eph.1:11, Dan.4:34-35 Note what this amazing promise says of Judas: Matt.19:28)…”

    This site article ends with this joyful prayer

    “,,,Heavenly Father, I love You. I am overcome with joy when I think of your pure and holy heart. I ask that You will cause all who read this message to know and EXPERIENCE the length, the width, the height and the depth of Your love as they never have known it before. I pray You will comfort every sorrowful and discouraged heart. Heal those who have been wounded by harsh religious traditions that subvert Your character and erode hope. Break through to your called out co-heirs–all around the world–with a life-changing revelation of Your heart and good purpose. Illuminate our lives with the radiance of Your Light. Light up our lives, dear Father! Cause us to shine as lights of Your true glory. Cause us to be the firstborn co-heirs and–co-world-restorers—-with Christ that You have called us to be. May Your kingdom come and Your will be done IN EARTH just as it is done in Heaven. In the Name of our Strong Deliverer, Jesus Christ. Amen…”

    Let us all approach the throne with fear and trembling which translates in the first century Greek that actually meant EXHUBERANT JOY.

    Thank you Lord Jesus Redeemer!

  5. Humility is such a mistery. The more we seek it, the more we seem to be further and further from it, yet it drives us more to it. This has been the topic the Lord has been intriguing me the entire year of 2011 and I pray that one day I truly understand it, live it and am capable of teaching it unto others. I wanna speak no more, but I want to leave with this message from Andrew Murray:
    “HUMILITY IS PERFECT QUIETNESS OF HEART. IT IS FOR ME TO HAVE NO TROUBLE, NEVER TO BE FRETTED OR VEXED OR IRRITATED OR SORE OR DISAPPOINTED. IT IS TO EXPECT NOTHING, TO WONDER AT NOTHING THAT IS DONE TO ME, TO FEEL NOTHING DONE AGAINST ME. IT IS TO BE AT REST WHEN NOBODY PRAISES ME AND WHEN I AM BLAMED OR DESPISED. IT IS TO HAVE A BLESSED HOME IN THE LORD WHERE I CAN GO IN AND SHUT THE DOOR AND KNEEL TO MY FATHER IN SECRET AND BE AT PEACE IN A DEEP SEA OF CALMNESS WHEN ALL AROUND IS TROUBLE. IT IS THE FRUIT OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST’S REDEMPTIVE WORK ON CALVARY’S CROSS, MANIFESTED IN THOSE OF HIS OWN WHO ARE DEFINITELY SUBJECT TO THE HOLY SPIRIT”

  6. Giovanni

    * IT IS TO HAVE A BLESSED HOME IN THE LORD WHERE I CAN GO IN AND SHUT THE DOOR AND KNEEL TO MY FATHER IN SECRET AND BE AT PEACE IN A DEEP SEA OF CALMNESS WHEN ALL AROUND IS TROUBLE. IT IS THE FRUIT OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST’S REDEMPTIVE WORK ON CALVARY’S CROSS, MANIFESTED IN THOSE OF HIS OWN WHO ARE DEFINITELY SUBJECT TO THE HOLY SPIRIT” *

    Excellent. Thank you for this exhortation.

    Mat 6:6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.

    Have any of you ever completely gone to a prone position while imploring God the Father’s help through the credentials of God the Son?

    Read the amazing Martyr Polycarp as he is about to be set ablaze.

    Chapter XIV.—The prayer of Polycarp.
    http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/anf01.iv.iv.xiv.html

    They did not nail him then, but simply bound him. And he, placing his hands behind him, and being bound like a distinguished ram [taken] out of a great flock for sacrifice, and prepared to be an acceptable burnt-offering unto God, looked up to heaven, and said,

    “O Lord God Almighty, the Father of thy beloved and blessed Son Jesus Christ, by whom we have received the knowledge of Thee, the God of angels and powers, and of every creature, and of the whole race of the righteous who live before thee, I give Thee thanks that Thou hast counted me, worthy of this day and this hour, that I should have a part in the number of Thy martyrs, in the cup of thy Christ, to the resurrection of eternal life, both of soul and body, through the incorruption [imparted] by the Holy Ghost. Among whom may I be accepted this day before Thee as a fat and acceptable sacrifice, according as Thou, the ever-truthful hast foreordained, hast revealed beforehand to me, and now hast fulfilled. Wherefore also I praise Thee for all things, I bless Thee, I glorify Thee, along with the everlasting and heavenly Jesus Christ, Thy beloved Son, with whom, to Thee, and the Holy Ghost, be glory both now and to all coming ages. Amen.”

    Matt 20:22
    Matt 26:39
    Mark 10:38

    Eusebius (Hist. Eccl., iv. 15) has preserved a great portion of this Martyrium, but in a text considerably differing from that we have followed. Here, instead of “and,” he has “in the Holy Ghost.”

    The fire did not touch him. The flames were quenched. He ultimately died by being run through with a dagger.