Micah 6:8
He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to
do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?
True humility is an upside down concept in the world today. Humility is a Kingdom
concept. It’s the first way. A way of priority, that the Lord God places on us as we walk
with him. Jesus demonstrated humility perfectly as he walked the earth. Humility is a
desire of the Father’s heart. Jesus demonstrated this desire so we’d model after him in
humility. God works with us to develop humility in our hearts. The purpose being that
he’d be able to use us as obedient servants, pure hearted, in the seasons ahead.
Humility is a way of thinking, a way of operation, a posture of the heart. The Lord is
pleased when we seek to cultivate true humility in our own hearts. As we seek to
understand what this looks like, we always come to God’s word – with eyes to see and
ears to hear – then, our heart postures with longing to have the Holy Spirit help us to
better understand what God says in his word. Micah 6:8 is a beautiful scripture. It’s a familiar passage to us, to be sure. We’d do well to consider and meditate on what the Lord requires of us, and not be “too familiar,’’ amen?
Proverbs 11:2 Pride leads to disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.
This proverb speaks of humility bringing with it wisdom, but also the opposite of
humility – pride, bringing with it, disgrace.
Matthew 23:12 But those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble
themselves will be exalted.
We know this to be so for every man, woman, boy and girl. No one is exempt from God’s
principle. How much better for us is it then, to examine our own heart and life? Consider
the way of God’s Kingdom, to implement it here on earth. Though it is unnatural for us to
do so, God will give us the grace we need. And how much better to be humble of our
own accord and lifted by God, than to have to be humbled by his hand?
James 4:6 But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives
grace to the humble.”
Let’s digest what James 4:6 is actually saying. To be in opposition to God, is to be
attached to this world. God opposes that person. The operation of pride is to walk in
imitation of the king of pride, Satan. He exalted himself above God (Isaiah 14:12-14).
God will resist the proud.
If we long to live with the grace of God active in our lives, the choice is simple. What is
the grace of God, exactly? The Greek word for “grace” means grace, kindness. Do we
want to live in the kindness of God? Given consideration and prayer, I believe most of us would choose the hand of God’s kindness over his resistance. It’s a matter ofimportance for us to consider the way in which we actually operate, over the way in which we’d want to operate, in order to live a life pleasing to God. Walking humbly, we can experience his grace, his kindness, and effectiveness at work through us.
Ephesians 4:31-32 Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as
well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving
one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.
Is it truly any wonder that the Lord would need to take the time to speak these things to
us? It is against our human nature to be humble before God and man. We are more bent
towards bitterness, holding on to anger, participating in slander, and towards being
selfish and proud. We are motivated to lift ourselves above others and promote
ourselves over others. The world climbs up on the backs of others to reach the top! The
Lord reminds us here in Ephesians, with the goal of bringing unity to the church of
Ephesus, to put this sinful nature away. To pull away from it and instead take on
another action, the posture and the heart of God. Our goal is t be tender-hearted toward
the Lord. He reminded us that we are to put the needs of others before our own. To be
forgiving, loving and kind. It’s a blessing to hear the Holy Spirit’s still small voice of
correction and turn from our faults. It’s time to determine to renew our minds in Christ
and posture ourselves with upright thinking in order that we would be able to truly walk
humbly with our God.
Philippians 2:3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others
more significant than yourselves.
Remember that Jesus said, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and
all your mind. ‘This is the first and most important command. And the second command
is like the first: ‘Love your neighbor as you love yourself.’ (Matt.22:27-39)
Lord, what does it look like to love you this way? To love others this way? Teach us, Lord!
Great transformation happens when we show God’s great love. We change the
atmosphere around us. We illuminate the environment with His Light! How beautiful to
study the ways of Christ and implement them now. His “high ways” are never
outdated, they are eternal, kingdom ways!
We must avoid the sinful nature and the temptations that flesh thrives in.
- Lust of the eye.
- Lust of the flesh.
- Pride of Life.
These traps are taught against and revealed to us in 1 John 2:16 -17 For the world
offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in
our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this
world. And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But
anyone who does what pleases God will live forever.
We see a living example of how Jesus overcame these temptations in Luke 4:1-15.
Notice, this passage begins and ends with Jesus, full of the Spirit. This is our key to
waking in victory as Jesus did. We will walk in victory when we are in step with Holy
Spirit.
The Temptation of Jesus Luke 4:1-15
1 Then Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan River. He was led by the
Spirit in the wilderness,[a] 2 where he was tempted by the devil for forty days. Jesus ate
nothing all that time and became very hungry.
3 Then the devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become a loaf
of bread.”
4 But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone.’[b]”
5 Then the devil took him up and revealed to him all the kingdoms of the world in a
moment of time. 6 “I will give you the glory of these kingdoms and authority over them,”
the devil said, “because they are mine to give to anyone I please. 7 I will give it all to you
if you will worship me.”
8 Jesus replied, “The Scriptures say,
‘You must worship the LORD your God
and serve only him.’[c]”
9 Then the devil took him to Jerusalem, to the highest point of the Temple, and said,
“If you are the Son of God, jump off! 10 For the Scriptures say,
‘He will order his angels to protect and guard you.
11 And they will hold you up with their hands
so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.’[d]”
12 Jesus responded, “The Scriptures also say, ‘You must not test the LORD your God.’[e]”
13 When the devil had finished tempting Jesus, he left him until the next opportunity
came.
14 Then Jesus returned to Galilee, filled with the Holy Spirit’s power. Reports about him
spread quickly through the whole region. 15 He taught regularly in their synagogues and
was praised by everyone.
Verses 4 and 14, the beginning and end of this powerful demonstration of Jesus show
us the key. Being filled with the Holy Spirit!
My friend, as we see the life of Jesus and study all about him, there is nothing that we
can do to imitate him or be like him, without the power of the Holy Spirit! The Word of
God gives many examples on this.
Let this lead us to a posture of prayer today. Let’s activate what God is saying about
humility by surrendering our hearts and wills to him. God will move in us and sift us so
that we can be full of his spiritual fruit.
Abba Father,
We come to you today, thinking about your teachings and demonstrations of humility.
Lord, it’s not a popular concept in our culture. But Father, we long to live in your grace and
kindness. We do not want to experience your hand of resistance against us. Lord, we want
to be pleasing to you as we love you first and then, love others the way we love ourselves.
Help us to desire your ways! Help us to have a repentant heart for walking in the desires
of our flesh, for walking in pride. Thank you for your forgiveness and mercy, Father! Let it
be the joy of our lives to love justice, seek mercy and walk humbly with you. AMEN.
By Autumn Temple, Intercessory Prayer Leader for IWM
