333 Words

333 WORDS….

1Pet.5:5: Be clothed with humility, for “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”

“God resists [opposes] the proud.” Better to be cowardly than proud. Better to be unfaithful than proud. Better to be immoral than proud.

“But gives grace to the humble.” Humility engenders grace. Because we need grace, we need humility. The more humility, the more grace. Father will never withhold grace from the meek. Therefore we can each obtain grace, even much grace.

Father could, and did, deposit much grace into Jesus because Jesus was “humble in heart”. As grace was needed for Him, grace is needed for us. To do what God has called us to do, we need lots. Insidious pride cannot be tolerated because it impedes the flow of grace.

Pride shrivels us as humility blossoms us.

There are several times in a year when we are slighted, insulted, misunderstood, ignored, maligned, betrayed or rejected. No one is immune. We all encounter these crucibles of heated agitation whereby the hidden impurities of our character are suddenly surfaced. We are hurt, angry, embarrassed. However….

However, these fiery darts are an opportunity to, as the expression goes, ‘die to self’. To purify silver, it was heated “ in a furnace of earth” so unwanted dross would rise to the surface. Same with us. Our wounded ego is evidence of spiritual impurities. Dross has been surfaced and exposed.

Can you see the opportunity?

These are opportune times to ask Lord Jesus to scrape away the surfaced yuck, and replace that yuck with…. Himself. Lord Jesus will comply.

We must choose humility over resentment, self-pity, retaliation. Exercising humility will strengthen the bond between Jesus and ‘me’.

Humility, sincerity, gratitude, perseverance…. if we lock these four in our heart they will surely take us in the right direction.

It must be understood, gaining Christ is a process – a lifelong process – of choosing Him over self (etcetera). Life down here will never be perfect, not even close, but it will be improved.