“The apostle Peter, in his first letter,” Stan began, “wrote something that it seems to me may not have gone quite far enough.”
“How can you say that?” I asked.
“Near the end of his first letter,” Stan replied, “Peter wrote that all of his readers, including me, are to clothe themselves with humility towards one another.”
“Did he say why?” I asked.
“He did,” Stan responded. “He pointed out that God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
“Sounds good to me,” I said. “You have a problem with what Peter said?”
“Just a little,” Stan replied. “It seems to me that when Peter writes that I am to be clothed with humility, that is saying that I am to look like I am being humble. Like putting on humility for someone else to see.”
“But,” he continued, “I think that humility has to come from the inside, from the innermost depths of my being. Then it will be manifested in and through my life as I relate to others.”
“Sort of like not being a ‘put on’,” I replied.
“Exactly!” Stan said. “I am to be a person of humility, not just look like one. What I look like is to be a manifestation of what I am on the inside.”
“And,” he concluded, “the only way I know how to do that is to give all of me to the leading, help, and counsel of the Holy Spirit.”
“The Holy Spirit is in me for the very purpose of transforming me into the likeness of Christ who was the ultimate manifestation of humility. He humbled Himself to the point of death for all who believe to obtain the free gift of salvation.”
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Clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble. 1 Peter 5:5.
And being found in the appearance as a man, He (Jesus) humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on the cross. Philippians 2:8.
Prayer: Thank you, Father, for sending your Son into the world to save all who believe. Thank you, Jesus, that you were obedient in humbling yourself on the cross so that I can look forward to life eternally with you and the Father when it is time. Thank you for the model of humility that you want for me to manifest in all I am while you keep me on this side of eternity. I confess that too often I fail to manifest true humility. Please forgive me. And please, Father, help me in following your lead by surrendering all of me to the leading, help, and counsel of the indwelling Holy Spirit so I am humble, not just look like it, in every aspect of my being. Thank you I can and do bring these prayers before you in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Think on this: Do you agree that there’s a difference between being humble and just looking humble? Do you find it difficult to be humble? If yes, what is the source of that difficulty? On the other hand, what is the source of true humility? What does it look like to access that source? Is this something you want to do?
Waiting for the Train 