HUMILITY IS PROFITABLE TO ALL THINGS!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

FRIDAY JULY 19, 2024.

SUBJECT : HUMILITY IS PROFITABLE TO ALL THINGS!

Memory verse: "By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches, and honor, and life" (Proverbs 22 vs 4).

READ: Luke 14 vs 7 - 11:

14:7: So He told a parable to those who were invited, when He noted how they chose the best places, saying to them; 

14:8: When you are invited by anyone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in the best place, lest one more honorable than you be invited by him;

14:9: And he who invited you and him come and say to you, 'Give place for this man,' and then you begin with shame to take the lowest place.

14:10: But when you are invited, go and sit down in the lowest place, so that when he who invited you comes he may say to you, 'Friend, go up higher.' Then you will have glory in the presence of those who sit at the table with you.

14:11: For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.

INTIMATION:

Humility signifies lowliness of mind. It is always used in good sense in the Scripture to denote low-lying; not to think too highly of oneself; to bring low in meekness or gentleness. It is being modest, unpretentious, and having a low opinion of oneself or one's claims. Humility is a character trait dominant in all real servants of the LORD. Christ Himself is humble. Though gentleness, or humility, is a very elusive character trait, yet the Bible regards it as a highly important quality.

The apostle Paul gave the clearest definition of humility in Romans 12 vs 3: "For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly…."

Each believer should not think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly; calm, self-controlled, exercising cool, dispassionate reason, self-possessed, not proud. 

Pride is destructive. In Proverbs 16 vs 18, the Scriptures says: "Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall." Pride usually makes us self-centered and leads us to wrongly conclude that we deserve all we can see, touch, or imagine. This wrong feeling creates greedy appetites for far more than we need. Only in being humble before God that we can be released from our self-centered desires, realizing that all we really need is God's approval. When the Holy Spirit fills us, we see that this world's seductive attractions are only cheap substitutes for what God has to offer.

God hears the humble, and does not forget his cry (Psalm 9 vs 12). He dwells in the high and holy place with him who has a contrite and humble spirit, and revives the spirit of the humble (Isaiah 57 vs 15). He gives grace to the humble (James 4 vs 6; First Peter 5 vs 5), and grace is all we need, and grace (free and unmerited favour of God for sinful humanity) is God’s greatest gift. When you humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, He will exalt you in due time (First Peter 5 vs 6) and His timing is the best since the end is known to Him from the beginning, and He wants the very best for you.

Abraham was humble and believed God, and ensured he would not offend God in any way. Any instructions given to him by God was strictly obeyed by him because of his believe in Him, and this was counted to him for righteousness. He was one of the few the persons in the Bible called “friend of God.” Moses was very humble, more than all men who were on the face of the earth (Numbers 12 vs 3). 

However, that was before the coming of Jesus Christ. Jesus is an epitome of humility. He was humble so much so that He was willing to give up His rights in order to obey God and serve humanity. His obedience in humility was unto death, even a shameful death on the cross.  Jesus described Himself as "gentle and low in heart" (Matthew 11 vs 29). If we say we follow Christ, we must also say we want to live as He lived. We should develop His attitude of humility as we serve, even when we are not likely to get recognition for our efforts. 

Like Christ, we should have a servant's attitude, serving out of love for God and for others, not out of guilt or fear. Everyone has the right of choice. You can choose your attitude. You can approach life expecting to be served, or you can look for opportunities to serve others and it takes humility to operate in this realm. Choose to be humble, and God will exalt you in due time.

Be clothed with humility (First Peter 5 vs 5) both old and young. It is the cure of evil desires in us. Pride often keeps older people from trying to understand young people and keeps young people from listening to those who are older. Both young and old should be humble and serve each other; old people leading the young ones, and the young ones respecting the old. Be humble enough to admit you can learn from each other.

Prayer: Abba Father, endue me with the spirit of raw obedience and humility exemplified in Christ Jesus our Messiah, that I may obtain Your greatest gift of grace needed to lead a life pleasing to You, and You will exalt me in due time with riches and honor, in Jesus Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!