Humility is the opposite of Pride

I know this, and you know this. Humility and pride are pretty much opposite of each other on the spectrum of virtues.

I think of Humility I think of Christ.

He came in the form of a servant, he was humble, he thought outside the box, why? Because he loved. He loved mankind, he came to show love, to be an example, to be a servant, ... to show us how to live.
Some people humility and a humble spirit comes natural. They do great things, and they want to stay under the radar. That person who gave money to buy a whole family's Christmas, anonymously, that person who gave up their family time to help out another, that person who spend a few extra minutes of their day blessing someone else.

There are other people that humility does not come natural, they are confident, boisterous and even obnoxious at times. But when you see that humble spirit, that humility come through to their character then you know Christ is in them, Jesus Christ is real and he is awesome !!!

I sometimes think of Paul that way in the Bible, I think God did a miraculous work in him on the road to Damascus, he changed him, but I think he still struggled even after that with pride and being arrogant. You can tell in his writings that he was very confident and self-assured that he knew what he was doing, but then you read what God did for him, not just his story, but over and over he reminded others of God's amazing grace.


Humility is being willing to set yourself aside for a more important purpose and Paul did just that, so did Jesus, but two very different individuals in contrast.

Are you willing to set yourself aside for a more important purpose? Your hopes, your dreams, your desires, "your goals in life" your money, your future, your home, your children, your parents, your career. Are you willing to set all that aside for a more important purpose? Ask yourself that, meditate on your motives, and examine yourself today.

When people ask me how do I know Jesus Christ is real, I can tell them I see him everyday. I see him transform people through HIS virtues, his love and his spirit and only God can do that !!! Have you ever seen God transform a prideful person into a humble person? I have.  I serve a living God !!!

Courage

I am reading my devotional and as I read it,  I am reminded of my purpose and place.

My devotion is about courage and standing firm.
"There are souls in the place of fear and desperation. Be always willing and ready to stand with them in that place and share your faith and courage."

When I read that, I think of myself. There are times when I don't want to stand.  I don't want to stand in this world and be pounded by reality and hurt and lies and the real world. I don't want to live in this hurtful world and stand with all that. I want to run, run home to my safe house, my warm bed, my relaxing back yard. I want to hang out at the beach and if by chance I meet someone struggling, then and only then when God leads that person into my life, then I will minister to them.  I want to get on my bike and ride and not think of this cruel world. But I was put in it for a reason... and that is to stand for the weak, to smile, to give an encouraging word, hope, help.
When I want to quit because it's toooo hard. I am reminded, I am here for a reason.

1Cor 9:22 
"To the Weak I become weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some." 

While I surely am not gonna save anyone, I am reminded of Danny's sermon Sunday


"Who will be better because of me?" 

If I am not in the world.. no one. If I hide in my home, yeah, I can make my kids better, and that is truly something I long for, spending more time, teaching and ministering to my kids, but God made us to be in the world, not of the world but in it and I pray I can help those along the way, if nothing more, but to have hope...... 


Then there is Paul, he had it figured out. There was no quitting for Paul, even when he had an out, he chose to continue, why?........ because he understood his goal

"Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ. Then, whether I come and see you again or only hear about you, I will know that you are standing together with one spirit and one purpose, fighting together for the faith, which is the Good News". Phil 1:27 NLT

Lord, please give us the courage to stand, to walk in this world with your strength as we know we cannot do anything of ourselves, but we can do all through you. 

Do you know your goal? Do you understand it? 
Do you have that hope? If not you can have it...