I've missed blogging these past several days. On Thursday I was returning to Calgary from visiting family in Vero Beach. My second flight that was schedule to arrive at 9:15 pm was delayed by engine trouble and arrived at mid-night. The last three days I have caught up on personal items (doctors, banks, mailings, things in storage, etc.), visits with Calgary friends and spending much of yesterday at Harvest Hills Alliance Church. All this with very intermittent computer time caused a break in blogs. With a 6:00 am flight tomorrow and two busy days in Toronto, I suspect I am about to miss some other blog days.
But at least today, let me share with you a great passage on humility from James 4:6 - 10. This passage contains a strong appeal for followers of Jesus to submit to God. Of course to submit to anyone's will demands humility. It involves, consciously or unconsciously deciding that the Other is more important, wiser - or both - than I am. This does not come naturally to most of us. It involves humility. So James assures, challenges and promises:
"God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. Submit yourselves, then to God. --- Humble yourselves before the Lord and He will lift you up." Such important, life changing words.
From my late teen years I recognized that I would have to battle a strong streak of pride. Of course I could not realize then it would be a lifelong battle. As I sought to grow in humility, I found myself admiring professors, preachers, top executives, anyone that that displayed the important but not often evident quality of humility. While only God knew their inner attitudes, these men and women provided for me examples of people who were much more concerned about God and others than about their own ego gratification or their own prominence. I am always attracted to people who display humility (not the false attention getting kind but real humility). And I suspect you are also.
Before our great Creator God each of us should have humble, submissive hearts. The love and sacrifice of our Saviour should "automatically" humble us. And if we really "get that right", this should move us naturally and supernaturally toward humility in our realationship with people created by Him, for Him and in His image. We who follow Christ ought to be known for our love - and known for our humility. These two character qualities (closely linked) shine from the life of the One we follow.
But at least today, let me share with you a great passage on humility from James 4:6 - 10. This passage contains a strong appeal for followers of Jesus to submit to God. Of course to submit to anyone's will demands humility. It involves, consciously or unconsciously deciding that the Other is more important, wiser - or both - than I am. This does not come naturally to most of us. It involves humility. So James assures, challenges and promises:
"God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. Submit yourselves, then to God. --- Humble yourselves before the Lord and He will lift you up." Such important, life changing words.
From my late teen years I recognized that I would have to battle a strong streak of pride. Of course I could not realize then it would be a lifelong battle. As I sought to grow in humility, I found myself admiring professors, preachers, top executives, anyone that that displayed the important but not often evident quality of humility. While only God knew their inner attitudes, these men and women provided for me examples of people who were much more concerned about God and others than about their own ego gratification or their own prominence. I am always attracted to people who display humility (not the false attention getting kind but real humility). And I suspect you are also.
Before our great Creator God each of us should have humble, submissive hearts. The love and sacrifice of our Saviour should "automatically" humble us. And if we really "get that right", this should move us naturally and supernaturally toward humility in our realationship with people created by Him, for Him and in His image. We who follow Christ ought to be known for our love - and known for our humility. These two character qualities (closely linked) shine from the life of the One we follow.
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