Hmmm - Humility

Driving along in the car this morning, I was thinking how pretty everything was with the sun coming up, touching the tops of the multicolored trees.  I found myself in awe of God’s creation and humbled by His thoughts, plans, and love for me.

Later, when checking the subject for a topical prayer schedule I am following, I saw that the day's prayer focus was Humility.  Much later in the day, in checking another daily Scripture source, the verse was 1 Peter 5:6 – also about humility.

Hmmm – Humility. I thought about Moses, who was said to be meek, or humble.

Numbers 12:3 Common English Bible (CEB)

³ Now the man Moses was humble, more so than anyone on earth.

 

In thinking about Moses, remembering his being told by the Lord to take off his shoes (when encountering “an angel of the Lord in a flame of fire in a bush”), it occurred to me that perhaps this removal of his shoes was a sign of humility.  In the restoration of the son returning from “a far country” in Jesus’ parable in Luke 15, shoes were to be placed upon his feet, as a sign of elevated status.

So, I thought I'd just look up some Scripture verses about humility, lowliness, meekness:

2 Chronicles 7:14 King James Version (KJV)

¹⁴ 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.

Micah 6:8 (KJV)

⁸ He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?

Matthew 11:28-30 (CEB)

²⁸ “Come to me, all you who are struggling hard and carrying heavy loads, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Put on my yoke, and learn from me. I’m gentle and humble. And you will find rest for yourselves. ³⁰ My yoke is easy to bear, and my burden is light.”

Ephesians 4:2-3 (KJV)

² With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;

³ Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

 

Colossians 3:12-13 (KJV)

¹² Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;

¹³ Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.

James 4:9-10 (KJV)

⁹ Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.

¹⁰ Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

1 Peter 5:5-7 (KJV)

⁵ Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.

⁶ Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:

⁷ Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

 

So I guess I wasn’t surprised when a situation presented itself where God’s grace covered me, deadening prideful feelings which could have seriously affected my attitude and damaged some relationships.  Thank You, God, for Your protection - by clothing me in humility!

Philippians 2:1-11 (KJV)

If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,

² Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.

³ Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.

⁴ Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.

⁵ Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

⁶ Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

⁷ But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

⁸ And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

⁹ Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:

¹⁰ That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;

¹¹ And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

 

… and my journey with Him continues …