As I often do, I was reading on my couch the other day. In my reading I was presented with the question: "How should our new identity in the gospel lead us to greater humility?" -Saturate Field Guide, Jeff Vanderstelt and Ben Connelly. I thought to myself. Huh, what would greater humility look like in my life? Does that mean going into a monastery and taking a vow of poverty and silence? Not very practical considering I've got three kids and a husband depending on me. Maybe greater humility would mean not writing or speaking anymore. Instead, I would stay home and take care of my four walls and four people in a quiet way for the rest of my life. Nope, tried that. Led to being diagnosed with depression, rage-based parenting and a constant nagging voice telling me to speak up. Not going back to that again. Maybe greater humility means always downplaying my own talents and gifts and pointing to others? I think we may be getting warmer there.
Greater humility does not mean throwing ourselves down on the ground to allow another to trample all over us. It does not mean running away from the world and it's pressures for the pursuit of godly wisdom and insight, at least not for most of us. It can mean staying in our homes and taking care of the work that needs to be done there, but not at the expense of forsaking any other callings on your life. Greater humility means that I will always place my self second, third, fourth or whatever position in the line I need to be in so that Christ will be glorified in my life.
Greater humility is hard work. It's putting in the effort to learn, not just occasionally or in a class, but in each and every second we are on this earth. Greater humility is the act of learning to be humble but still do your work. And not just do the work, but to really do the work well. When I get to heaven at the end of this life, I want to know that I worked hard, I showed up and I did my best. I want to run my race with grace and humility. But I also want to know I leave it all on the finish line. Because you can do a good job, a fantastic job with greater humility. Being humble doesn't mean not being prepared. It's not an excuse to show up half-way because you played to much Candy Crush (looking at myself in the mirror right now). Being unprepared is laziness, not humbleness. Keep that in mind. Whatever you do, do it well and with humility. Don't do it half-way and tell the world it's because you wanted to be humble.
Living in Greater Humility for me, means gaining a true and real picture of the work of God in my life. It means I realize the depths of humbleness that Jesus went to so that we all have a way back to a relationship with God the Father. The more I can see that, the more the Holy Spirit shows me (us) what a gift humility is. That I don't have to posture or pretend I am anything more than what I have been created to be. What I am is a vessel of Christ to be on this earth to serve others. So I can show others the goodness and richness that is in the Kingdom of God. So that we ALL might come back to a place of reconciliation and right relationship with our Creator.
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| from Andrew Murray, quotefancy.com |
Greater humility is hard work. It's putting in the effort to learn, not just occasionally or in a class, but in each and every second we are on this earth. Greater humility is the act of learning to be humble but still do your work. And not just do the work, but to really do the work well. When I get to heaven at the end of this life, I want to know that I worked hard, I showed up and I did my best. I want to run my race with grace and humility. But I also want to know I leave it all on the finish line. Because you can do a good job, a fantastic job with greater humility. Being humble doesn't mean not being prepared. It's not an excuse to show up half-way because you played to much Candy Crush (looking at myself in the mirror right now). Being unprepared is laziness, not humbleness. Keep that in mind. Whatever you do, do it well and with humility. Don't do it half-way and tell the world it's because you wanted to be humble.Living in Greater Humility for me, means gaining a true and real picture of the work of God in my life. It means I realize the depths of humbleness that Jesus went to so that we all have a way back to a relationship with God the Father. The more I can see that, the more the Holy Spirit shows me (us) what a gift humility is. That I don't have to posture or pretend I am anything more than what I have been created to be. What I am is a vessel of Christ to be on this earth to serve others. So I can show others the goodness and richness that is in the Kingdom of God. So that we ALL might come back to a place of reconciliation and right relationship with our Creator.
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