Thoughts on Humility

I began thinking about humility versus pride today because it is something that I struggle with greatly. Here are some things I found while thinking on the subject of humility that are both convicting and encouraging.

"He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?" Micah 6:8

"Do you wish to rise? Begin by descending. You plan a tower that will easily pierce the clouds? Lay first the foundation of humility." ~Augustine

"Let any man turn to God in earnest, let him begin to exercise himself unto godliness, let him seek to develop his powers of spiritual receptivity by trust and obedience and humility, and the results will exceed anything he may have hoped in his leane.” ~A.W. Tozer

"A man can counterfeit love, he can counterfeit faith, he can counterfeit hope and all the other graces, but it is very difficult to counterfeit humility." ~D. L. Moody

"The only humility that is really ours is not that which we try to show before God in prayer, but that which we carry with us in our daily conduct." ~Andrew Murray

"If I cannot in honest happiness take the second place (or the twentieth); if I cannot take the first without making a fuss about my unworthiness, then I know nothing of Calvary love."
~Amy Carmichael

"I am sure that there are many Christians who will confess that their experience has been very much like my own—that we had long known the Lord without realizing that meekness and lowliness of heart should be the distinguishing feature of the disciple, as they were of the Master. Such humility is not a thing that will come on its own. It must be made the object of special desire, prayer, faith and practice." ~Andrew Murray

"If anyone would like to acquire humility, I can, I think, tell him the first step. The first step is to realize that one is proud. And a biggish step, too. At least, nothing whatever can be done before it. If you think you're not conceited, it means you are very conceited indeed." ~C.S. Lewis

"Humility and love are precisely the graces which the men of the world can understand, if they do not comprehend doctrines. They are the graces about which there is no mystery, and they are within reach of all classes... The poorest Christian can every day find occasion for practicing love and humility." ~J. C. Ryle

His Sheep Feed in the Midst of Wolves!

"The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want!" Psalm 23:1

The Lord is my Shepherd! This is a comprehensive word. The sheep can do nothing for themselves. The Shepherd must guide, guard, feed, heal and recover. It is well for us--that our Shepherd is the Lord Almighty! If His power, care, compassion and fullness were not infinite--the poor sheep would be forsaken, starved and die! But we have a Shepherd full of care, full of kindness, full of power, who has said, "I will search for My lost ones who strayed away, and I will bring them safely home again. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak!" Ezekiel 34:16. How tender are these expressions, and how well fulfilled! His sheep feed in the midst of wolves--yet are safely preserved; for, though they cannot see Him--His eye and His heart are ever upon them!

Which of God's children have not cause to say, "My soul is among lions!" But our Shepherd stops their mouths, or only permits them to gape and roar, and show their teeth. He does not allow them to bite and tear us at their will. Let us trust our Shepherd--and all shall be well.

As to daily occurrences, it is best to trust that a daily portion of comforts and crosses--each one the most suitable to our case--is adjusted and appointed by the hand which was once nailed to the cross for us! We must trust, that where the path of duty and prudence leads us--that there is the best situation we could possibly be in, at that time.

"Letters of John Newton," excerpt sent by Grace Gems. (Yet another Grace Gems that I found especially encouraging!)

Micah 5:4-5

"He will stand and shepherd His flock in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD His God. And they will live securely, for then His greatness will reach to the ends of the earth. And He will be their peace."

When I came across these verses they got me thinking about all of the attributes of Christ that are mentioned here. The fact that He is standing to keep watch over the flock made me think of His faithfulness. The next word, "shepherd," implies a tenderness in caring for the sheep. The verse then says that He shepherds His flock in the "strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord His God." I was so encouraged to think of the strength and power that Christ uses to keep His people, because it goes on to say that we are secure.

Also, because of the security of the Christian and the power of Christ, "His greatness will reach to the ends of the earth." I think that oftentimes we think that glorifying God is something the Christian says or something specific that they do. The reality is that just by continuing on with God in the sight of the fallen world around us, we can glorify God in a tremendous way! In many instances actions speak louder than words. Another way that we can glorify God is by making Christ our peace. The world is always watching, and if we find our peace in Christ rather than in temporal things, how much that says about the God we serve. He is faithful, tender, caring, powerful, majestic, great, able to keep his sheep, able to give peace to His people, and worthy of praise!

My Cup Overflows (Psalm 23:5)

There is always something "over,"

When we trust our gracious Lord;

Every cup is overflowing,

His great rivers are all broad.

Nothing narrow, nothing sparing,

Ever springing from His store;

To His own He gives full measure,

Overflowing evermore.

There is always something "over,"

When we, from the Father's hand,

Take our portion with thanksgiving,

Praising for the path He planned.

Satisfaction, full and deepening,

Fills the soul, and lights the eye,

When the heart has trusted Jesus

All its needs to satisfy.

There is always something "over,"

When we tell of all His love;

Unreached depths still lie beneath us,

Unscaled heights rise far above:

Human lips can never utter

All His wondrous tenderness,

We can only praise and wonder,

And His name forever bless.

~Margaret E. Barber

Seek Ye First...

"But seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness: and all these things shall be added unto you." Matthew 5:33

"Do you make it your primary business, your first great concern, to seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness? Are the things of God, the honour of His name, the welfare of His Church, the conversion of sinners, and the profit of your own soul, your chief aim? Or, does your business, or your family, or your own temporal concerns, in some shape or other primarily occupy your attention? I never knew a child of God who acted according to the above passage, in whose experience the Lord did not fulfill His word of promise, "All these things shall be added unto you." ~George Muller

The Cross is not Made of Soft Feathers

(Charles Spurgeon) "Take up the cross--and follow Me." Mark 10:21

You have not the liberty of making of your own cross; although unbelief is a master carpenter at cross-making. Neither are you permitted to choose your own cross; although self-will would gladly be lord and master. Your cross is prepared and appointed for you by divine love--and you are cheerfully to accept it. You are to take up the cross as your chosen portion, and not to stand caviling at it. Jesus bids you to submit your shoulder to His easy yoke. Do not . . .

kick at it in petulance, or
trample on it in vain-glory, or
fall under it in despair, or
run away from it in fear.
Take it up like a true follower of Jesus.

Jesus was a cross-bearer; He leads the way in the path of sorrow. Surely you could not desire a better guide! And if He carried a cross--what nobler burden would you desire? The Way of the Cross is the way of safety--do not fear to tread its thorny paths.

Beloved, the cross is not made of soft feathers, or lined with velvet--it is heavy and galling to disobedient shoulders! But it is not an iron cross, though your fears have painted it with iron colors! It is a wooden cross, and a man can carry it, for the Man of sorrows carried the load. Take up your cross, and by the power of the Spirit--you will soon be so in love with it, that like Moses, you would not exchange the reproach of Christ for all the treasures of Egypt!

Remember that the cross will soon be followed by the crown. The thought of the coming weight of glory--will greatly lighten the present heaviness of trouble. May the Lord help you to bow your heart in submission to the divine will--that you may go forth to this day's cross with the holy and submissive spirit which befits a follower of the Crucified.

Cross-Bearing

Last week Bob gave a message on cross-bearing that was really encouraging. He began by speaking on Christ's cross-bearing and then went on to talk about the Christian's cross-bearing, which was especially helpful. I think it is good to be reminded that we do not bear our crosses alone but Christ bears them with us. Knowing that Christ is always with us to help in our cross-bearing makes the crosses seem lighter and the distance to bear them seem shorter. In my reading this week I came across this uplifting poem that reminded me of Bob's message.


"The road is too rough," I said;
"It is uphill all the way;
No flowers, but thorns instead;
And the skies overhead are gray."
But One took my hand at the entrance dim,
And sweet is the road that I walk with Him.

"The cross is too great," I cried--
"More than the back can bear,
So rough and heavy and wide,
And nobody near to care."
And One stooped softly and touched my hand:
"I know. I care. And I understand."

Then why do we fret and cry;
Cross-bearers as we go:
But the road ends by and by
In the dearest place we know,
And every step in the journey we
May take in the Lord's own company.

~Author Unknown