Wednesday July 1, 2015

Read 1 Peter 3:8, 1 Peter 5:5,6 & Ephesians 4:2

Mac Davis wrote the following words in a song:

Oh Lord it's hard to be humble
When you're perfect in every way.
I can't wait
To look in the mirror.
Cause I get better looking each day.
To know me is to love me.
I must be a hell of a man.
Oh Lord It's hard to be humble,
But I'm doing the best that I can.

  

Are these the words of someone who is humble?  It’s not the way I understand humility. Humility is an attitude of considering others better than ourselves.

The Apostle Peter wrote: “Finally, all of you live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble.”(1 Peter 3:8) Again he wrote: “Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, cloth yourselves with humility toward one another because, ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.’ Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.” (1 Peter 5:5-6)

When we are living humbly we remember and show compassion toward others. It takes a strong person to do that – one who can see weaknesses in others but loves them all the more. It is showing respect to others.

When we think of Jesus, we’re told He humbled Himself to become a man. He spoke of not coming to “be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many (Mark 10:45).” Jesus, the Son of God, through whom the world was made, left the glory of heaven to become a man.

Paul wrote: “And being found in appearance as a man, He (Jesus) humbled Himself and became obedient to death – even death on a cross!” (Philippians 2:8) The most powerful and perfect man who ever lived submitted Himself to be taken by sinful men and placed among criminals of the worst kind, to die on a cross. Death on the cross was a death reserved for the worst of criminals, and Jesus, who was without sin, allowed Himself to be put to death on the cross. He could have called upon an army of angels to come to His rescue, but He humbled Himself to die, because His death was for our sins – our brokenness before God. He died so that we might be made whole and renewed as innocent of guilt before God.

When such humility is our example, who are we to think of ourselves and think that we are above all others. It is only in seeing our need for Jesus that we are truly great. For then we will live as men and women who clothe ourselves with the same humility under God’s mighty hand.

A wise man once said, “humility comes before honour.” (Proverbs 15:33) Jesus was exulted by God to be given the greatest name in heaven and on earth. So too, God will lift us up in time, not because we are greater than any other person, but because He chooses to demonstrate His power in us.

The person who loves God will humble themselves and be a servant in likeness of heart and manner as the Lord Jesus. From a position of humility we can love others. We will say: ‘To God be the glory!’

Prayer:

Using today’s passage and the reading notes spend time in prayer.

Adoration:

Confession:

Thanks:

Supplication:

· Pray for the leaders of your church that they will serve from a position of humility.

· Pray that you might have the same spirit as John the Baptist who desired that he might decrease and the Lord Jesus might increase as he went about his service.

· Pray for the leaders of governments, schools, businesses across your nation that they will humble in their service and leadership.

· Pray for the persecuted they will be strong in their faith even while they face the humiliation of their tormentors.

 Discussion Questions For Families and Groups

1. How might you demonstrate humility today?

2. Besides Jesus, who has shown you what it means to be humble?

3. When do you find it hardest to be humble?