Are You Humble

Today’s Through the Bible Reading: James 4-5; Acts 11:19-12:25

Truly experiencing the Lord's presence leaves a person humbled. God is perfectly perfect and it is only by looking to Him and experiencing His presence that a true measure of holiness and rightness is realized. He is righteous and we are not. He is holy and we are flawed. It is only through Jesus’ blood that our sin can be atoned for. In today’s reading we are admonished to keep this in perspective and remain humble.

But He giveth more grace. Wherefore He saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. James 4:6-8

There is a guaranteed way to maintain a humble spirit - realizing that apart from God’s grace, we are no better than anyone else and our works of “righteousness” are nothing more than filthy rags (Isa 64:6). To keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith (Heb 12:2). A realization of who He is will leave us nothing other than humbled. Consider the responses of Ezekiel (Ez 1:28), Isaiah (Isa 6:1), and Joshua the high priest (Zech 3) as they were humbled by God’s presence. They each responded with, “Woe to me! For I am a man of unclean lips…” (Isa 6:5). Then God cleansed and strengthened each of them.

This is the pattern God desires for each of us – dig into His Word, see His glory and holiness, realize your desperate need for Him, allow Him to cleanse you and strengthen you in the power of His might. If our eyes are on Him and we realize our condition without Him, there will be no room for anything other than a humble spirit.

But to this one I will look, To him who is humble and contrite of spirit, and who trembles at My word. Isaiah 66:2

Take time to enter the Lords presence. Read His Word and let Him reveal sin so that you can be humbled, touched, and cleansed.