Humility... really...

May 10: 
Living a Life that Matters…
Philippians 2:5-11

Think of yourselves the way Christ Jesus thought of himself. He had equal status with God but didn’t think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what. Not at all. When the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human! Having become human, he stayed human. It was an incredibly humbling process. He didn’t claim special privileges. Instead, he lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death—and the worst kind of death at that—a crucifixion.
Because of that obedience, God lifted him high and honored him far beyond anyone or anything, ever, so that all created beings in heaven and on earth—even those long ago dead and buried—will bow in worship before this Jesus Christ, and call out in praise that he is the Master of all, to the glorious honor of God the Father.

Every wonder what it means to be humble? Webster's Dictionary explains it like this... 

hum·ble

adjective \ˈhəm-bəl also chiefly Southern ˈəm-\

hum·bler hum·blest

1

: not proud or haughty : not arrogant or assertive

2

: reflecting, expressing, or offered in a spirit of deference or submission <a humble apology>

3

a : ranking low in a hierarchy or scale : insignificant, unpretentious

b : not costly or luxurious <a humble contraption>

— hum·ble·ness noun

— hum·bly adverb

 

 This kind of humility is almost unheard of  in our culture. Love of self is at an all-time high. It’s amazing to me how we can always seem to find the time & money to entertain, educate, feed & pamper ourselves & yet struggle to find the same kind of energy to put priority on the things of God.
How can we show God we love him? We can follow the example of Jesus & truly empty ourselves… We can offer to Him our lives in full… our time, our finances, our plans, our possessions.  

I love this song by Ginny Owens. 

  http://youtu.be/HdYXyxVazL0

All I want to do, is give this life to You
All I want to do, is give this life to You
All I want to do, is give this life to You
And let Your will be done, until it's all I want to do.

How does doubt slip in, so silently?
And why does condemnation come so naturally?
Why do I still get the best of me?
Loving so little and living so selfishly?

When all I want to do, is give this life to You.
All I want to do is give this life to You.
All I want to do is give this life to You,
and let Your will be done until it's all I want to do.

What have I been given by Your grace?
Will I come to understand this mystery I embrace?
Make of me a new creation now,
Fill me with all you are and be all I am some how.

Cuz all I want to do is give this life to You.
All I want to do is give this life to You.
All I want to do is give this life to You
And let Your will be done, until it's all I want to do.

Faith so fragile
Reaching for Your hand

All I want to do, is give this life to You.
All I want to do, is give this life to You.
All I want to do, is give this life to You,
and let your will be done, til it's all I want to do.
And let your will be done, til it's all I want to do.
-Ginny Owens

mmm… my soul longs for this...
Lord, may we be humble enough to surrender our lives to You… completely...




"Humility is perfect quietness of heart. It is to expect nothing, to wonder at nothing that is done to me, to feel nothing done against me. It is to be at rest when nobody praises me, and when I am blamed or despised. It is to have a blessed home in the Lord, where I can go in and shut the door, and kneel to my Father in secret, and am at peace as in a deep sea of calmness, when all around and above is trouble." -Andrew Murray