God humbles every one of His people as He
calls them. This experience is often difficult to bear, but the fruit of it,
humility, is blessed. This humbling work continues throughout the believers
lifetime, producing in him that Christ-like character of meekness and lowliness
of heart. But, religion will always try to produce what only God can produce,
and when it does, it is able to produce only a very poor counterfeit of the
real thing. When religion aims for humility, it generally produces only
humiliation. It is true that we would all be humiliated if all our actions and
inner thoughts were revealed. But the gospel does not aim for humiliation, but
humility. Nor does the gospel use the prospect of humiliation a threat to goad
us on to a particular way of life. Note these distinctions between God-given
humility and man-made humiliation:
1.) Humiliation is the work of the law
humility is the work of grace,
2.) Humiliation is a wounding of pride,
humbling is the killing of pride.
3.) The humiliated man is embittered by his
humiliation, the humbled man is made content and meek.
4.) The humiliated man finds comfort in the
prospect of doing better and thus redeeming his character and reputation; the
humbled man does not think he can do better of himself and finds comfort that
Jesus Christ has redeemed his soul.
5.) The humiliated man will judge others then
justify himself that he is not as bad as some others; the humbled man will see
himself as the chief of sinners and justify himself by the merits of Jesus
Christ.
6.) The humiliated man feels worthless before
men; the humbled man feels worthless before God. For example, Saul was
humiliated by the revelation that David was a better man, and thus became more
embittered against David and God. David saw his sin as before God alone, and
was drawn to seek the Lord by the revelation of his sin.
7.) The humiliated man is angry and sad; the
humble man is content and happy. Which are you?
Joe Terrell, Pastor
Grace Community Church of Rock Valley, Iowa