"If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land" (2 Chronicles 7:14).
"To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps...." (1 Peter 2:21-25). Humility, an example.
Broken Together - Casting Crowns
God resists those who are not humble (1 Peter 5). While those younger in Christ are to be submissive to leaders, humbling themselves under God's authority, leaders have a greater responsibility; to set the example to the younger. Jesus was an example of humility, "when they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly" (1 Peter 2:21-25). A quality of a leader is that of influencing. When we learn to entrust ourselves to the just judge our circle of influence grows. Influencing is leading by example, having a sense of the suffering of Christ, shepherding the flock by supervising it willingly not out of necessity, nor by lording over, nor for personal gain, but as being role models becoming that of the good shepherd (1 Peter 5:1-6).
Humility proves that we are children of God, "Do all things without grumbling or disputing; so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world" (Philippians 2:15). God gives grace (James 4:6) and exaltation to the humble (Matthew 23:12). Exalt means he acts to raise in importance our position, healing, or happiness.[1] God disciplines those he loves, this includes refining us, "And you shall remember the whole way that the Lord your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not" (Deuteronomy 8:2).
To increase in Christ we must be humble, "He must increase, but I must decrease" (John 3:30). God highly values the humble, "All these things my hand has made, and so all these things came to be, declares the Lord. But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word" (Isaiah 66:2; Luke 18:15-17). Humility is in the wise, "When pride comes, then comes dishonor, but with the humble is wisdom. The integrity of the upright will guide them..." (Proverbs 11:2-3). Humility preserves unity of Spirit (Ephesians 4:2-3). Being humble is loving, "in humility count others more significant than yourselves" (Philippians 2:3-11). Humility rewards with riches, honor, and life (Proverbs 22:4).
One definition of humility is the quality or state of not thinking you are better than others.[1] God wants us to treat others as we would ourselves, so he will humble us when we do not, "whoever exalts himself will be humbled" (Matthew 23:12), and when we are judgmental, "For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you" (Matthew 7:1-2). In humility we love and bring unity to the body of Christ, which will be a testimony to the world that we are his disciples and that he is from God and then they will believe our message and know that Jesus is from God (John 13:35;17:21-23). Humility helps to bring unity in the church, a great evangelical tool, as the gospel is the best defense and living out a life according to the principles of Jesus' teachings is the best argument.
Humility is a true mark of a Christian (Romans 12). "In humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross" (Philippians 2:1-9). Humility is to be put on, it is an example, "Put on compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience" (Colossians 3:12).
"And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony..."And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body...And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him" (Colossians 3). Put them on, wear them like clothing, the principles of Jesus, value them so they become core values, live them out so they become your character, reflecting Christ and his glory.[2]
Humility proves that we are children of God, "Do all things without grumbling or disputing; so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world" (Philippians 2:15). God gives grace (James 4:6) and exaltation to the humble (Matthew 23:12). Exalt means he acts to raise in importance our position, healing, or happiness.[1] God disciplines those he loves, this includes refining us, "And you shall remember the whole way that the Lord your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not" (Deuteronomy 8:2).
To increase in Christ we must be humble, "He must increase, but I must decrease" (John 3:30). God highly values the humble, "All these things my hand has made, and so all these things came to be, declares the Lord. But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word" (Isaiah 66:2; Luke 18:15-17). Humility is in the wise, "When pride comes, then comes dishonor, but with the humble is wisdom. The integrity of the upright will guide them..." (Proverbs 11:2-3). Humility preserves unity of Spirit (Ephesians 4:2-3). Being humble is loving, "in humility count others more significant than yourselves" (Philippians 2:3-11). Humility rewards with riches, honor, and life (Proverbs 22:4).
One definition of humility is the quality or state of not thinking you are better than others.[1] God wants us to treat others as we would ourselves, so he will humble us when we do not, "whoever exalts himself will be humbled" (Matthew 23:12), and when we are judgmental, "For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you" (Matthew 7:1-2). In humility we love and bring unity to the body of Christ, which will be a testimony to the world that we are his disciples and that he is from God and then they will believe our message and know that Jesus is from God (John 13:35;17:21-23). Humility helps to bring unity in the church, a great evangelical tool, as the gospel is the best defense and living out a life according to the principles of Jesus' teachings is the best argument.
Humility is a true mark of a Christian (Romans 12). "In humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross" (Philippians 2:1-9). Humility is to be put on, it is an example, "Put on compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience" (Colossians 3:12).
"And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony..."And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body...And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him" (Colossians 3). Put them on, wear them like clothing, the principles of Jesus, value them so they become core values, live them out so they become your character, reflecting Christ and his glory.[2]
"To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps...." (1 Peter 2:21-25). Humility, an example.
Broken Together - Casting Crowns