One soul pridefully prayed while lifting itself above unjust souls. The boast of weekly fasting and tithing premiered its superiority. Standing in a distance was a humbled soul that dare not look up, but remorsefully begged, “God be merciful to me a sinner.” The humble soul was exalted in the parable, while the proud soul was humbled. Luke 18:9  Humility shines forth from a soul completely dependent on God. Our heavenly Father resists the proud, but gives abundant grace to the humble. Will God find His chosen walking by faith and not by sight when He returns? 2 Corinthians 5:6-8

The three main reasons we should seek humility. 1)  We are created beings. 2) We are sinners. 3) We are His chosen, grateful, and by His grace, transformed saints.

If God is the hand that fits into our emptied soul’s glove, then we truly live and enjoy His being in us. We can do nothing to please God without faith, so we humbly submit. Humility is the only way to return to our proper place before God. As His saints, we realize that humility is the result of God’s great grace. Created from nothing, we are overwhelmed by God’s great love in saving us and moving through us by His Spirit.  Our highest joy is found in the truth of our nothingness without God. It is NOT natural to be NOTHING so that God may be everything, so we pray to be emptied of all pride and self-deception. May God find us faithful without deceit.

Jesus became a suffering servant, so when He told us, whoever wants to be first among you must be your servant — He was revealing a great truth. There is nothing more heavenly than serving and helping others. A faithful servant who knows his role takes joy in meeting the needs of his Master. Living as servants to all is the highest purpose for those made in God’s image. The true mark of a follower of Jesus is His glory shining through His emptied, and then filled servants. 

Acknowledge that God’s ways are not ours. His thoughts must be adopted in order to experience lasting joy. Heavens PERFECT ways never cease and God’s economy is never in recession. The DASH in-between the date of our birth and the date of our spiritual death represents the DASH of how we lived in humility before JESUS or …how we lived to just please ourselves. To die to ourself means we acknowledge our selfish ways, our rebellion, and our pride. The spiritual WAR is WON as we submit and obey. Only by emptying the temple of the living God of all envy, deceit, lying, and hate, can we allow others to mock our faith in God.  Trust that His anointing of grace alone is sufficient. Walk in confident humility to bless the Lord with a humility that matches His.  As His agents of grace, we do what He called us to do. We love all and forgive all as He done for us. AMEN

“They shall cast their crowns before the throne, saying, worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power, because You created all things, and by Your will they existed and were created.” Revelation 4:11.

It is the deep happiness of heaven to be so free from self that whatever is said of us or done to us is lost and swallowed up in the thought that Jesus is all. His grace is sufficient for us to meet the temptation of pride too. Let us take pleasure in our weakness, in all that can humble us and keep us low. Then the power of Christ will rest on us.Trust that His strength will be perfected in our weakness. Let us choose to be weak, to be low, to be nothing. Jesus humbled Himself, and as a result, God exalted Him. The Holy Spirit will convict us, to humble us and keep us humble. Let us heartily consent and with trust and joy all that humbles, and as a result, the power and favor of God will rest on us. Humility is the secret of lasting happiness and of a joy that nothing can destroy.

“He that humbles himself shall be exalted.” Luke 14:11. ● “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He shall lift you up.” James 4:10.● “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time.” 1st Peter 5:6. ● Oh my Lord, how can I conquer pride? His command is clear. Humble yourself! To conquer and cast out the pride of our nature and form within ourself the lowliness of the holy Jesus, is NOT our task. Our Father is the one that lifts us up into the real likeness of His beloved Son, Jesus. What His command means is that we take every opportunity to humble ourself before God and man. We humble ourself in the faith of the grace that is already working in us. We trust the assurance of more grace that is coming. We respond humbly in the flash  that spotlights the pride in our heart. To grow “in Him” we must be purged of our prideful nature.

Even though there may be much failure and falling, we stand firm under the unchanging command, “humble yourself.” Choose to accept with gratitude everything that God allows from friend or enemy, in nature or in grace, to remind you of your need of humbling. He allows all hard things to help us. Consider humility to be the mother virtue. Our very first duty before God, the one constant safeguard of the soul, is to humble ourselves before God. Our role is to trust and obey His command. God is faithful to do the one thing He promised. He will give us more grace, and He will exalt us in His time. All God’s dealings with His creation are characterized by two stages. The time of preparation when command and promise mingled with the experience of effort, weakness, failure, and partial success, produce the expectance of something better. These times prod, train, and discipline us for a higher stage. Then comes the time of fulfillment when faith inherits the promise and enjoys what it so often struggled for in vain. These two stages hold true in every part of the Christian life and in the pursuit of every separate virtue. God takes the initiative to get our attention. After God has His way with us, to break, shape, and mold us into His empty willing vessel, we embrace our role with joy. In our effort to pursue obedience and fulfillment, we learn to know our weakness in dying to our self-righteous pride. The Holy Spirit equips us to voluntarily and intellectually receive sufficient grace in our weaknesses.

Our Father understands our weakness in our pursuit of humility. To every Christian, the command comes from the throne of God to humble yourself. Our enthusiastic attempt to listen and obey is rewarded with the painful discovery of the depth of our pride. That our long held unwillingness to count ourself and to be counted as nothing. That our rebellious spirit chose not to submit absolutely to God. We admit the weakness on our own to destroy the hideous monster of pride. Blessed is the soul who learns to put it’s hope in God and persevere in spite of all the power of pride within. The law of human nature: Acts produce habits. Habits breed attitudes. Our attitudes of the heart form our will, and the rightly formed will is our character. It is no different in the work of God’s grace.

When God created the universe, His purpose was to share His perfection and joy with His creatures. He wanted to reveal His love, wisdom, and power by filling created beings with as much of His goodness and glory as they could receive. His gift of faith was never meant to make the creature independent. Apart from God, we are nothing. God is forever living, eternally present, and always working to uphold everything by His power. We creatures can only exist in a constant state of total dependence on His grace.   Empty yourself of all pride and be ready for the Holy Spirit to fill your vessel for His purpose and glory. We find joy in being nothing so that God may be all. The life God gives is not a one-time gift. It flows constantly from Him by His will and power. His generous act of repeatedly giving us grace establishes His desire to habitually strengthen our character. The Holy Spirit works to do the will of God and to transform the proud. Our humbling is rewarded with more grace.  The spirit of Jesus conquered us to bring us into maturity. Yes, we strive to humble ourselves in the sight of the Lord because He is worthy.

The thief on the cross was in a humble state when Jesus reassured him that his empty vessel was to receive and enjoy the glory of God. As we enter into the fellowship of the humiliation of Jesus,  we humble ourselves to endure the humbling remarks of mankind. Then the spirit of God and His glory will rest upon us. Water always fills first the lowest places. The lower and the emptier a man lays himself before God, the speedier and the fuller will be the inflow of divine glory.
All that God has to give or can give is only more of Himself to take more complete possession of His willing vessels. A desired exaltation by God is not like an earthly prize. His exaltation has zero to do with our conduct. It is the effect and result of the humbling of ourselves to be NOTHING before Him. The humility of the Holy Spirit, as our constant Helper, is for us to conform to the state of humility of Jesus. Become the emptied full possession of the Lamb of God so His grace allows us to receive His fullness. He that humbles himself will be exalted. Jesus Himself is the proof verifying the truth of these words. Let us take His yoke upon us and learn from Him, for He is meek and lowly of heart. If we are willing to humble ourselves to the holiness of Jesus as He humbled Himself to leave His throne for us, He will deliver each humbled soul, and the meek soul will no longer be unequally yoked with Jesus.

Pride is the loss of humility, and pride is the root of all sin and evil. Angels fell into pride as they began to admire themselves. When the serpent desiring to be like God, whispered into the hearts of Adam and Eve, they also fell from their high place and brought all the misery into which humanity is now sunk. In both heaven and earth, pride and self-exaltation are the doorway, the beginning, and the curse of hell. All this is to show throughout eternity that pride can cast the highest angels down to become devils, while humility can lift fallen flesh and blood up to the thrones of angels. This is the great purpose in God raising a new creation out of a fallen kingdom of angels. It exists in a conflict between the fire and pride of the fallen spirits and the humility of the lamb of God. “Evil begins only in pride and ends only in humility.” Andrew Murray

Pride must die in you, or nothing of heaven can live in you. Under His banner, give yourself wholly to the meek and humble spirit of Jesus. Humility must be planted, or there can be no harvest in heaven. Do not see pride as just an unworthy temper, nor humility as only a modest virtue. Pride is death. Humility is life. Pride is hell. Humility is heaven. The more pride you have, the more the life of fallen angels is in you. The more true humility you have, the more the lamb of God dwells in you. If you could see what each stirring of pride does to your soul, you would beg everything around you to tear that viper out of you. If you could see the sweet, divine, transforming power of humility, how it drives out the poison of your nature and opens your soul for God’s spirit to live in you, you would rather choose to be the footstool of all the world than be without the smallest measure of humility. Therefore, the only possible redemption is through the restoration of humility, the original and rightful relationship of the creature to God. That is why Jesus came, to bring humility back to earth, to make us share in it, and to save us through it. In heaven, He humbled Himself to become a man. The humility we see in Jesus on earth was already His in heaven. He brought it with Him. On earth, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death. It was His humility that gave His death its saving power. By His humility, we are redeemed.

The salvation Jesus gives is nothing less than sharing in His life and death. His pure humility is the foundation of His relationship with the Father and of His saving work. Jesus took the place of man and fulfilled man’s calling as a creature by living in perfect humility. His humility is our salvation. His salvation is our humility. The life of every believer must be marked by this same humility, showing that we have been delivered from sin and restored to our true place before God. Only with humility can we remain in God’s presence or enjoy His favor and power. Without humility, there can be no steady faith, no real love, no lasting joy, or strength. Humility is the only soil where all other graces can grow. Without it, every failure can be explained.

Humility alone puts us in the right position before God and gives Him room to be all in us. God has made us as rational beings, so that the more clearly we understand the true nature and absolute need of a command, the more willing and complete our obedience will be. Humility is not something we bring to God or something He simply gives to us. It is the deep AWARENESS of our total NOTHINGNESS that comes when we truly see that God is EVERYTHING. In that awareness, we give God the space to be ALL in us. When a creature understands that this is true greatness, that with heart, mind, and will, he is to be a vessel in which God’s life and glory can work, then he sees that humility is just ACCEPTING the TRUTH of his place as a creature and giving God HIS RIGHTFUL place.

The very nature and joy of the creature is found in the humility and nothingness that gives God the freedom to be all. This is the first and greatest truth about our relationship to God. Humility does not come naturally. We must pray to be humbled and believe God  will deliver us from our selfish pride.  Jesus taught His disciples about humility, and they were slow to grasp His meaning. There is nothing more hidden and DECEITFUL, and nothing more difficult to overcome than PRIDE. Let us CONFESS that only through patient, determined waiting on God will we begin to see how deeply we lack humility and how powerless we are to produce it ourselves. Let us fix our eyes on the character of Christ until our hearts are moved with love and admiration for His humble lowliness. When we are humbled by the discovery of our PRIDE and our inability to remove it, Jesus Christ Himself will come to give us this grace as well. He will share HIS own humility with us as part of the life he lives within us. Humility, is the secret of redemption. Jesus, who emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, and humbled Himself, becoming obedient even unto death. Therefore, God also highly exalted Him.

Philippians 2:5-7.

The glove analogy illustrates how humans, created in God’s image, are spiritually lifeless without God’s presence within them. The analogy of a spiritually dead thing is demonstrated by a glove. If it fits, wear it. A glove was made in the image of a hand, right? Our five fingers easily slide as they fit inside His glove. And with His hand inside, the glove can be useful. It partners with the hand with a purpose to protect it from harm, from the cold. But without the hand inside, the glove is lifeless. In the same way, we were created in the image of God, so that God can live inside of us. And with God, we have a purpose. He filled us with His power, with His hand on us, and in us. We are filled with His strength —but without God, we are spiritually dead, just like an empty glove hidden in a drawer. Trusting God’s Word, we were created in the image of God so that God could live inside of us and give us purpose. With God in us, all things are made possible for those who believe that Jesus Christ is Who He says He is. The Son of God, came to take away the sins of the world. By His blood, He forgives and restores those Who believe in Him. Put your hand in His as His redeemed ! Our Father will rejoice over you with singing and dancing and great favor. Zephaniah 3:17

What happened 2,500 years ago that still has a huge impact on the entire world? Doctor Luke documented that the shepherds were terrified! The lowly shepherds represent humility and simplicity. They were in a field just doing their humble, ordinary work. They watched over their flock.  In God’s appointed time, they were suddenly visited by a mighty angel, along with an unforgettable heavenly choir of ministering spirits. They had no highly valued social standing, just a part of societies working class.  A mighty angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. The angel said, “Do not be afraid. I bring you GOOD NEWS that will cause great JOY for ALL the people. Today in the town of Bethlehem, a SAVIOR has been born to you; HE is the promised MESSIAH, the LORD GOD born among you.

Suddenly a great company, of tens of thousands of the heavenly host appeared with the angel. Ardently dedicated to thundering praise to God, in unison they said, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth PEACE to those on whom HIS FAVOR rests.” When the angels left, the astonished shepherds hurried to Bethlehem to see this thing that the LORD GOD had told them about.” Luke 2

The Prince of Peace was born in a room in the town of Bethlehem.  Imagine seeing the angel that appeared! Hearing what the angel had told them! Then, hearing such an enormous choir sing!  The shepherds were filled with awe and wonder! They burst with excitement to share what they heard and saw. How incredible that God would tell ordinary folks first!  The shepherds were astonished to see and hear from an angel.  Then go to gaze upon the face of Jesus, God in the flesh. So, too, we ponder the wonder of having His Spirit on deposit in us, for His purpose and glory!

We do well to consider this good news deeply as we treasure it daily. Think back to the joyous day when Jesus knocked on your heart. Where did He find you? Our Good Shepherd seeks and finds His scattered sheep. He assigns angels to watch over us! The moment anyone personally invites Jesus into their heart, is the instant that the Divine Holy Spirit takes up residence. His ongoing occupation is the reality of our hope. He comes alive in the ordinary, sad, confused, lost, humble, and fearful. “PEACE to those on whom HIS favor rests.” BEFORE believing in JESUS, we were His enemies. His favor rests on those who receive the Prince of Peace as their personal Savior.

We are wonderfully and fearfully made! When the shepherds had seen Him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this Child, and all who heard it were AMAZED at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary TREASURED up all these things and PONDERED them in her heart. Mary remembered what the prophet Isaiah said. “For to us a child is born, to us a Son is given, and the government will on His shoulders, and He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6 Also, that He was a Man of many sorrows.

The shepherds returned to the field, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, He was named Jesus, the name the angel had given Him before He was conceived.” During Rosh Hashanah “the eighth day,” signals a new way of being in the world. Clothed in His merciful righteousness, we walk in the Spirit because we are changed through the life, death, and new life in Jesus Christ. Our witness is that God’s creative activity continues to manifest by our faith in Jesus, Lord of all.

The birth, death, and the  resurrection of Jesus are historical events. Luke  penned the eyewitness accounts he collected. His gospel focuses on Mary’s amazing experience. She pondered them in her heart. What shall you do?

Today, a person reads these headlines. Hurricanes, wars, and rumors of WW3, death, declining economy, fraud, sex trafficking, and evil schemes of politicians. People hesitate to read the Bible, so here is a quick summary of God’s plan.

1) Forgive all sins
2) New Life today
3) Hope for the future

Resting in His peace, we rest in the place of His capable hands. The Prince of Peace is with us, and He abides in us as the Holy Spirit. It is a choice to submit, to surrender, to be still and to know that our Father is faithful, and He never departs from us. It is a choice to join Him, to unite for His great purpose. We are re-centered by Him and in Him. Together we face the chaos in this world. The more difficult the situation becomes, the more tempting it is for us to shift into high gear to fix the problems in our ways. As soon as we realize that we have wandered away from our Shepherd, we stop, and call upon the name of Jesus. Increasingly, we choose to pause, to ask He who is within, to lead and guide us with all wisdom.