Thursday April 30, 2020

Your Daily Dose of Inspiration:

You may think that it would be very hard for you not be offended at Christ’s words. If Christ called you a dog when you were begging Him for help, you would find it difficult to then submit any further. But that is likely because we have more pride than that good woman. I imagine she was able to accept those words of Christ because she was not thinking of herself. Her concern was not for herself or her reputation, it was focused on the need of her daughter. I don’t think that she had a necessarily low opinion of herself, she was simply humble. Humility is not thinking less of yourself; it is thinking of yourself less.

To even get near [humility], even for a moment, is like a drink of cold water to a man in a desert. Do not imagine that if you meet a really humble man, he will be what most people call “humble” nowadays: he will not be a sort of greasy, smarmy person, who is always telling you that, of course, he is nobody. Probably all you will think about him is that he seemed a cheerful, intelligent chap who took a real interest in what you said to him. If you do dislike him it will be because you feel a little envious of anyone who seems to enjoy life so easily. He will not be thinking about humility: he will not be thinking about himself at all.

C.S. Lewis Mere Christianity

That is the tough thing about humility. It isn’t something you can really try to do. Humility can’t be the goal of your actions because you would still be focused on yourself. If I spent all my time trying to make myself humble, I would still be spending all my time thinking about myself. The only time you are truly humble is when you are not thinking about yourself at all. Philippians 2:3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.

That is a central quality of a mature Christian. The mature Christian is not concerned with themselves, they aren’t thinking about themselves at all. The mature Christian is always looking out for others, to where other people have needs. We have turned church into a self-help meeting. We come to church to find out how to make ourselves better. But that is not what the mature Christian is about. The mature Christian knows that we cannot make ourselves better, if we could then we would not need Jesus. Rather than being focused on what I need, I need to be focused on the needs of others and allow God to take care of my needs.

Matthew 6:31-33 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ (32) For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. (33) But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

We are to follow the example of Christ; did He not lay aside all His needs? Did He not leave the throne of Heaven and become a human in lowly position? Did His not set aside His needs and lay down His life for the world? Did He not consider us more than Himself? Did He not wash the feet of His disciples and call us to do the same for one another?

Mark 10:45 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.

-Jared Freeman, “Humility & Exaltation”