29 min
The Power of Humility Devotional Thoughts
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- Christianity
The Power of Humility
Last week we examined James’ warning about pride. To recap he stated the following:
It is the source of quarrels and conflicts.
It results in lust and murder.
It produces envy, fighting and quarreling.
It blinds us to our spiritual needs, and hinders our prayers, due to wrong motives.
As a result of pride, our relationship with the world is like an adulterous relationship, and we are enemies of God. In a phrase, no good thing will come from pride. However, while pride hinders our relationship with the Lord, humility opens the door to God’s blessings.
James 4:5 - 10 5 Or do you think that the Scripture speaks to no purpose: “He jealously desires the Spirit which He has made to dwell in us”? 6 But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” 7 Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.
This passage is what I call the tale of two spirits. The spirit of this world and the Holy Spirit. James has revealed the nature of the world’s spirit, beginning with the world’s wisdom, the impact of pride, and so forth. The Apostle Paul addresses this in Galatians 5 by contrasting what he called the fruit of the flesh and the fruit of the Spirit.
Galatians 5:16-26 16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. 17 For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law. 19 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, 21 envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. 26 Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another.
Those who follow Christ are called to walk in humility. However, it’s a battle and at times we struggle to do so. James reminds us that while the struggle is great, God’s grace is greater. With that in mind let’s walk in these truths today.
God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble, therefore submit yourselves to the Lord. This is the acknowledgement you can’t do it alone. That you need the Lord’s help.
Resist the Devil and he will flee from you. Stop making him welcome in your life. Stop listening to his accusations and lies. I heard a Christian musician say the following: “Every time the Devil reminds me of my past, I remind him of his future.” I think that’s an effective form of resisting.
Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Take the initiative to come into the presence of the Lord. Through worship and meditation on the Scripture, through prayer and times of quietness press into the presence of the Lord. It will amaze you what sweet times of fellowship, restoration and renewal these times will be.
Cleanse your hands and purify your hearts. This is so important. King David in Psalm 24:3-4 speaks to this matter when he asks:
3 Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? And who may stand in His holy place?
4 He w
The Power of Humility
Last week we examined James’ warning about pride. To recap he stated the following:
It is the source of quarrels and conflicts.
It results in lust and murder.
It produces envy, fighting and quarreling.
It blinds us to our spiritual needs, and hinders our prayers, due to wrong motives.
As a result of pride, our relationship with the world is like an adulterous relationship, and we are enemies of God. In a phrase, no good thing will come from pride. However, while pride hinders our relationship with the Lord, humility opens the door to God’s blessings.
James 4:5 - 10 5 Or do you think that the Scripture speaks to no purpose: “He jealously desires the Spirit which He has made to dwell in us”? 6 But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” 7 Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.
This passage is what I call the tale of two spirits. The spirit of this world and the Holy Spirit. James has revealed the nature of the world’s spirit, beginning with the world’s wisdom, the impact of pride, and so forth. The Apostle Paul addresses this in Galatians 5 by contrasting what he called the fruit of the flesh and the fruit of the Spirit.
Galatians 5:16-26 16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. 17 For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law. 19 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, 21 envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. 26 Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another.
Those who follow Christ are called to walk in humility. However, it’s a battle and at times we struggle to do so. James reminds us that while the struggle is great, God’s grace is greater. With that in mind let’s walk in these truths today.
God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble, therefore submit yourselves to the Lord. This is the acknowledgement you can’t do it alone. That you need the Lord’s help.
Resist the Devil and he will flee from you. Stop making him welcome in your life. Stop listening to his accusations and lies. I heard a Christian musician say the following: “Every time the Devil reminds me of my past, I remind him of his future.” I think that’s an effective form of resisting.
Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Take the initiative to come into the presence of the Lord. Through worship and meditation on the Scripture, through prayer and times of quietness press into the presence of the Lord. It will amaze you what sweet times of fellowship, restoration and renewal these times will be.
Cleanse your hands and purify your hearts. This is so important. King David in Psalm 24:3-4 speaks to this matter when he asks:
3 Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? And who may stand in His holy place?
4 He w
29 min