HUMILITY TRAINING

May 2

Psalms 119:141 I am small and despised: yet do not I forget thy precepts.

How many times do we want to get back at those who despise us and make us feel small? How many times do we want to say or do something that may vindicate us in our own eyes? How many times, when faced with these situations, are we tempted to forget His precepts and try to bring in our own justice?

Whatever our background, the fate of God’s children is to eventually be abased in the eyes of the world, as well as their own eyes. God has ordained it so because we need to learn the true humility that elevates us in his kingdom. This humility training comes at the price of deep humiliations and true breakings. Oh, how God knows our number; how well He knows the very thing that will provoke the humility schooling in us.

With some of us He may use what we are the most conscious of: our outward appearance. He may give us a poor complexion or an inability to lose weight. With others He may use a handicap such as a speech impediment. He may also use a simple mind or an inability to compete with others in physical aptitudes. He may also allow people, often those closest to us, to mock us, despise us, use and misunderstand us, even and particularly at times when we try to do something good for them. This will cause us to want to cry out for justice and vindication, and it will not come no matter what we do or say. A situation brings us to a place in our life where the only godly solution to the problem is to go under in humility.

Jesus suffered it all without opening His mouth. He went as a sheep to the slaughter (Isaiah 53). He gave His body and His life voluntarily over to the mockers and scorners of this world. He did it so so He could conquer evil. He did it so we could live. He did as a sample for us to follow, and no true missionary, pastor or teacher of the Word can do a good job without the humility schooling that God sends our way and brings us through.


Matthew 5:3-10 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (4) Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. (5) Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. (6) Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. (7) Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. (8) Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. (9) Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. (10) Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.