We are all called to great things in Christ, but the only way to be great it by being completely humble. When we truly become great, that means, we have become so humble that the only thing that people can see is Jesus, because he is the essence of greatness. We cannot be great. It is only Christ through us that is great. We are merely his vessels and can have no greatness on our own. Greatness is found in humility.
What do you think of when I say humility? Do you think of humiliation? Do you think of being stupid and insignificant? Humility is not a bad thing. Humility is so beautiful. It is the result of perfect selflessness.
“He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death – even death on a cross.”
~Philippians 2:8
Christ was so humble that he gave himself up and was obedient. He humbled himself because he loves us with a love that is unfathomable. He gave us this example so we could understand just what the extent of our calling to humbleness is. We, first of all, need to be willing to endure any humiliation. Like in my last post: “ the fear of being humiliated,…despised,…forgotten …wronged, …ridiculed, …suspected”. If we are willing to renounce our fear of these things, we can begin to be humble.
I have this picture in my imagination of a young girl, who isn’t very strikingly beautiful, who isn’t all that intelligent, and who isn’t really very significant. She speaks softly, and is mostly quiet. Nobody really wants to get to know her. She doesn’t seem that important. Look closer though. She has a heart. A simple heart that is overflowing with love. She has been loving everyone who has been ignoring her for as far back as you can remember. She has a pure heart and does special things for people, but does not get any recognition. She doesn’t want recognition. She wants to please her Savior. She wants to love her God with all she has. That is so beautiful. That amounts to immeasurable beauty. This girl has what’s important even though nobody notices her. She knows that the one person who does notice her, loves her so much that He died on a cross.
I want to strive to be like that girl. I know right now I desire the approval of the world too much. I am enslaved by the fear of being thought badly of. I want beyond anything for my only motivation to be to love my God. Humility is loving God with your entire heart, oblivious to other peoples judgments.
"As waters flow from the mountains down into the valleys, so, too, do God's graces flow only into humble souls" (previous post). If we want to be full of God's grace, we must be humble. God commands us here in scripture:
"Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others. Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus."
~Philippians 2:3-5
"Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love"
~Ephesians 4:9
To be humble, we have to put others first and look to the interests of others. We have to forget about ourselves and think about others. Our hearts should be full of gentleness and patience.
"Let your adornment be the inner self with the lasting beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in God's sight."
I don't know how else to express just how important this is. A humble girl is priceless. Don't forget that. Humility is almost like the fulfillment of purity. A humble heart is a pure heart. A humble heart is also a simple heart. One last thing:
"Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven"
~Matthew 18:4
I don't know if that made any sense to anyone. I'm really just making an effort. I'd like to ask you guys to pray for me. I need this virtue more than anybody.
~The Halfling
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Oct. 16, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Natalie
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