Humility

What is humility? What is it to be humble?

HUMIL’ITY, n. [L. humilitas.]  In theology, humility consists in lowliness of mind; a deep sense of one’s own unworthiness in the sight of God, self-abasement, penitence for sin, and submission to the divine will.  (“humility.” Noah Webster’s 1828 American Dictionary of the English Language. 2014.)

HUM’BLE, a. [L. humilis.]  Lowly; modest; meek; submissive; opposed to proud, haughty, arrogant or assuming. In an evangelical sense, having a low opinion of one’s self, and a deep sense of unworthiness in the sight of God.  (“humble.” Noah Webster’s 1828 American Dictionary of the English Language. 2014.)

The Enemy of My Enemy is My Friend…?

There is a common saying that goes “the enemy of my enemy is my friend”. But is the statement entirely true and accurate? If my desire is, for instance, to get abortion outlawed in America, is anybody that agrees with me in this goal my friend? What about an Orthodox Jew, or maybe a Muslim, or an Atheist? Does them having the same political or social desires and goals as you and I make them our friend?

Absolutely not! For my ultimate desire is for the glory of Jesus Christ. So I cannot befriend a Jew, or Muslim, or Atheist, not even for political gain; for they hate Christ. But in modern American society, especially what calls itself the “religious right”, we see forsaking of the glory of Christ in order to attain some sort of social or political gain.

And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. – Colossians 3:17

Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. – 1 Corinthians 10:31

Glory of Christ

Let me make this as clear as possible from the very beginning. Your salvation is not about you. My salvation is not about me. Our lives are not about us. Everything is to the glory of Jesus Christ.

In almost everything I see that is “Christian”, in almost all of the articles I read (the “popular” ones anyway), in almost all of the sermons I hear, in far too many of the conversations I have, the topic revolves around us. Our salvation, our hope, our desires, our prayers, our sins, our….the list goes on and on. And yes, Christ is normally in the conversation somewhere, but He is not the central theme of it.

³ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:  ⁴According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:  ⁵Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,  ⁶ To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. – Ephesians 1:3-6