We're continuing our series on The Virtuous Life of a Christ-Centered Wife. Today is part one in the discussion on the virtue of humility. See the table of contents at the end of this post.
In humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. ~ Philippians 2:4, NIVHumility is found in many forms such as modesty, meekness, humbleness, lowliness of mind, and submission. These are all things that go against our natural desire to excel and be seen in this world. We are driven by a need to be right, to be in charge and to come first, and time and again, our flesh deceives us into thinking that settling for anything less is a sign of weakness.
Take a look at this quote from GotQuestions.org, it sums up why the Jews refused to accept Jesus as the Messiah:
The Jews rejected Jesus because He failed, in their eyes, to do what they expected their Messiah to do—destroy evil and all their enemies and establish an eternal kingdom with Israel as the preeminent nation in the world. The prophecies in Isaiah and Psalm 22 described a suffering Messiah who would be persecuted and killed, but they chose to focus instead on those prophecies that discussed His glorious victories, not His crucifixion. ~ Got Questions?org
They wanted a king, who would be triumphant over their enemies, but instead they saw a man who was oppressed and afflicted and brought as a lamb to the slaughter. They wanted strength, but what they found was a weak and broken man who refused to strike back.
It’s amazing what people miss out on when they refuse to open their eyes. What they failed to see, is the same thing that many people fail to see today which is the incomparable power of humility.
Humility, submission, and lowliness of mind can only occur when the soul is triumphant over the flesh–when our desire to come first is put aside for the good of another. Or in the case of our Savior and Lord, His desire was put aside for the good of mankind.
Let’s take a look at the following verses:
Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father. ~ John 10:17-18, KJVDo you see the power in those two verses? It’s incredible! There wasn’t a single moment during His life when Jesus was under the thumb of mankind. Every step that He took to the cross was a willful and deliberate act of service to His Father.
In the same way, submission is a willful and deliberate act of service that we bring to the Lord. Our flesh wants nothing more than to be in control, to win every argument, and to put ourselves first. Those who exercise humility take up their cross daily by laying down the desire of the flesh for the good of another.
Did you notice the word I used there? Exercise. Just like athletes who are training for a race we must train ourselves to be patient, hold our tongue, give up our need to be right, and choose joy. The stronger we get the more power we have over the flesh.
Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. ~ Matthew 16:324, KJVThe next time you’re told that submission is a step back for women, remember that every step that you take to the cross is a willful and deliberate act of service to God.
The schedule for this series
Week 1: Introduction
Week 2 - Purity Pt. 1
Week 2 - Purity Pt. 2
Week 3 - Self Control Pt. 1
Week 3 - Self Control Pt. 2
Week 4 - Love Pt. 1
Week 4 - Love Pt. 2
Week 5 - Diligence Pt. 1
Week 5 - Diligence Pt. 2
Week 6 - Patience Pt. 1
Week 6 - Patience Pt. 2
Week 7 - Kindness Pt. 1
Week 7 - Kindness Pt. 2
Week 8 - Humility Pt. 1
You are loved by an almighty God,
She's an award winning and New York Times best-selling author who is nothing without the grace of God.
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I enjoyed this post and just want to be sure I understand correctly as I've been struggling with this very thing. Am I to understand that to be joyful or have joy is a choice...something that needs to be exercised?
ReplyDeleteAs I understand it, from countless sermons, bible studies, etc., joy is a choice. You can experience joy at something good that happens to you or because of you, without deliberately choosing to be happy/have joy in it. But just as often, I believe, people don't experience joy at good things, or simple things, because they are so focused on something else. I am by no means perfect in this, but I would much rather be a happy person than a grump. Life is so much less stressful that way! More to the point of the article, being humble is super difficult for the vast majority of us. Who doesn't want to prove that they are right? Who doesn't want to get their own way? When I look at my life and the times that I "won," I wasn't any more happy, vindicated for a moment, but not happy. Some people may call me a push-over at times, or indecisive, but when it comes to the important things, Christ God and obeying his commands, you won't find a push-over here. That may have been a bit off topic, but I hope it helps some!
DeleteI would say it's both. Joy is a fruit of the Spirit, which means that it's evident in those who are walking in the Spirit. We can be in a devastating situation, but we always have a choice as to whether or not we will keep our eyes on the world and the problem at hand or turn our eyes toward the one who brings joy. When we see this world as a temporary place rather than our final home it's easier to choose joy.
ReplyDeleteThere's also another side to this. I remember being stressed out one day over a friend of mine. I couldn't seem to shake that unhappy feeling until a friend of mine reminded me of this. People can do and say what they want--and they will, but the one thing they can't do is choose your emotion. That's yours and always will be.
I love what you said about exercise to be patient. I am an athlete and can totally relate!
ReplyDelete