Humility, at least it's meaning, can be something hard to grasp. Being proud of our accomplishments hardly seems evil or wrong and it is usually what comes to mind when we teach about pride and humility. Only humility doesn't mean we cannot be proud of our accomplishments. We can and should but it should be for the right reasons. The child who comes running to mom or dad with his coloring page completed full of pride shows it to them not just to say look at what I did but to share the joy of their accomplishment with them knowing it was them that taught them to color in the first place. The child's desire is to please the his/her parents, so it should be with each believer. Humility means you recognize where your gifts and abilities come from and you're excited about accomplishing something that God wanted for you in the first place. The Spirit of God through Paul tells us... And you were dead in your trespasses and sins in which you previously walked according to the ways of this world, according to the ruler who exercises authority over the lower heavens, the spirit now working in the disobedient. We too all previously lived among them in our fleshly desires, carrying out the inclinations of our flesh and thoughts, and we were by nature children under wrath as the others were also. But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love that He had for us, made us alive with the Messiah even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace! Together with Christ Jesus He also raised us up and seated us in the heavens, so that in the coming ages He might display the immeasurable riches of His grace through His kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift— not from works, so that no one can boast. For we are His creation, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time so that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:1-10 ![]() So it is that we are NOT saved by good works but we are saved for good works. We are NOT to boast (be proud) of ourselves as if we are the reason we have what we have or have done what we have done rather we boast because of what God has done in and through us. We don't come like proud children looking to show off but like children who are proud wanting to share their joy with their parents. The final model today is that of a person who knows and has trusted Jesus for the forgiveness of their sin yet is still being led by their flesh (body) rather than telling their bodies what to do. This believer is meant to be led by Jesus but instead they are being led by what their body wants. The funny thing is that it could look the same on the outside, what makes the difference is the motive (why we do what we do). Are we living for self or for Him. The one who knows Jesus and is telling others about Jesus and does his best to be patient, kind, gentle etc. yet is doing so looking for God's approval doesn't understand the love of God. They are looking for it as if we haven't received it in the person of Jesus Christ. "We love because, [God] love us first." 1John 4:19 Let the love of God propel you toward the good work He prepared beforehand so that you will produce the fruit of the Spirit not just good works to glorify yourself. Ask yourself today, who sits on the throne of my life? If the answer is you let us get off the throne and surrender it to Jesus the rightful KIng of kings and Lord of lords. There's no place we should rather be than the love of God in Jesus Christ. Have a great day Loved Ones and God bless you real good!
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