Some of my greatest falls have resulted in the greatest recognition of the need for humility in my life.
Tying to last week's post that the humble are more aware of the snares of the Devil, those that have fallen into vices and been redeemed are not only conscious of their unworthiness to be forgiven, but the fact that they may have been saved from greater sins and vices.
I look back on some the greatest falls of my own life. Inevitably, had I continued down those paths they would have ended up in far worse circumstances. The damage that happened when I finally fell was devastating enough; the damage that could be done had they continued would have been even worse.
Humility keeps me from these things.
Every time that idea, that thought, comes up and somehow in my mind the thought starts to form "This time it will be different" - every time, humility reminds me of what happened the last time and how prone I am to fail. And that I would do so, given the chance.
In that sense, perhaps, humility is less for me than those I care about. Like a driver that knows that driven drunk can wield a broad a deadly path and chooses to pass, we can save those around us untold hurt and brokenness by remaining humble and reminding ourselves how great a forgiveness we have been granted.
Such wisdom.
ReplyDeleteThanks Sandi - but purely wisdom not of my own making. At best, I can just pick up glimmer of what others have posted on the subject.
DeleteI think humility is a lifelong pursuit. One problem is that we're stuck with ourselves. What I mean is, we view life from our own bodies, experiences, and perspectives. Learning how to set that aside is an ongoing challenge.
ReplyDeleteLeigh, I completely agree. But I think one of the things I am realizing is that we are not even aware that humility is a lifelong pursuit. I wonder if we either think it magically appears or it's something that as Christians we don't have to actively work on.
DeleteThis series makes me wonder how many social media "influencers" are humble. "This time it'll be different" is something I struggle with also TB, trying to be less full of yourself is....well.....trying. Timely posts of this day of the week.......:)
ReplyDeleteNylon12, I do not wonder that social media is the antithesis of humility. Almost by definition everything is about you and what you do in order to get people to follow you.
DeleteThe more I think and right on this, the more I realize how bad I am at it.
One of the most Godly people I ever met was a 69 year old home missionary. She mentored me when I was a brand new believer. She had come to know Jesus in her adult years, probably close to 30. As she rode the trolley car to and from work each day, she memorized scripture. She had entire books of the New Testament memorized. She had the sharpest wit and a scalpel tongue, both of which were under complete control. I remarked on her exceptional life one day, how it seemed she was closer to God than anyone I'd ever met. She said, "the closer you get to Him, the more you see how sinful you are."
ReplyDeleteHumility is just one byproduct of a right relationship to God. Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. The closer you get to God, the brighter His holiness shines on you, in you and through you.
(cf. Exodus 34:29-31 - figuratively what I saw in my mentor)
STxAR -"I remarked on her exceptional life one day, how it seemed she was closer to God than anyone I'd ever met. She said, "the closer you get to Him, the more you see how sinful you are." - this is certainly a common reaction in scripture when men and women are exposed to the holiness of God: they fall down in utter fear and despair.
DeleteI suspect the more clearly we see our sin, the more we tend not to even think about ourselves in the presence of God. This is similar to a thought that. C. S. Lewis had on humility.
100% this. The best days in my life were all born on the worst days in my life.
ReplyDeleteJohn, there are no flowers without rain.
DeleteI constantly need to remind myself of my propensity to sin even in the midst of God's gifts lest I abuse them and fall.