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The beginning of being humbled for the Christian, is Salvation. Becoming humble is a life-long process not easily taught. Not easily accepted by most, for it is crushing to the self. Yet, there is no more valuable a lesson in self-denial
than the learning of it. Many Christians know the why of it, for it is in the word. The world's attitude on many of it's teachings is I know the how, now show me the why? This seemed the prinicipal of many earthly teachers I have ever met |
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Humility or becoming humble, is something we want to emulate, for
we see in the word one of Jesus's qualities of being.
Yet, many of us find it difficult to know the 'how' of it?
It occurs in four instances I have experienced in my walk
over the years with my God. Salvation is one, foot washing, communion and being the Prodigal Son. In all these actions involving the self and total denial of it, is the result, tiny portions of God's teachings on humility. This is one of the hidden qualities of Christ, like the others which are spoken of but, not easily achieved in living our spiritual life. Other examples, holiness, wisdom, God's Agape love, patience, true mercy, to name a few. Now much has been spoken of not going on feelings. This has only to do with either by faith, or by feelings. As Christians we to walk in faith, discern in faith, and act in faith. This human quality, as well as spiritual, has been misinterpreted by many who have mistaught, and construed to mean all feelings are of little value. Yet, the Father feels, the Holy Spirit feels, and Jesus certainly has feelings as the word attests to. If I am made in the likeness and image of God,and I feel, I find I cannot love without feelings, so my God made me with them for a purpose. As Jesus instructs us to wash another's feet, He commands His other disciples to wash each others feet. Why? If you understand the workings of selfishness within yourself, then you know that Obedience to God, destroys ones pride, the result is small lessons in humility but important nonetheless. When God feels it necessary for a lesson in humility to cleanse a proud attitude within you, He drops a little lesson on humility into your life. These lessons are rare, but just your participation in them, brings His wisdom in great abundance? In becoming the servant, and washing another's feet, even ritually, I think of my Jesus, and how He must have felt, the depth of His humility He knew, and I have never been so grateful for another brother's beautiful feet which I was blessed to wash than at that moment. It is so moving an experience, that I didn't want to stop washing everyones feet and praying that night, so enraptured did I become. We had communion right aftwards, another spontaneous act of compound humility. We didn't have the necessary bread or crackers, or wine or grape juice for the ceremony at that moment, for it was out of the blue we were led by the Holy Spirit to perform it. So we grabbed what was necessary, and God blessed greatly what we came up with. I doubt that very few communions were held with potato chips and pepsi cola, but God blessed it all the same, as the God who always honours His beloved Son. Lastly, I have had three episodes of being the prodigal son in my lifetime. When I had acted in haste and foolishness, and I knew, and God knew instantly I had sinned so badly towards other brothers and sisters, that He dropped His hammer on my heart. Each time it was necessary for me to beg for forgiveness to the whole body of believers for my offense of pride. Each time I learned of the feeling of total abandonment by my God from me. Such a terrible feeling was attached to this my greatest loss in my then life, I shall never forget it. It was like my God shutting a door on me, I have never felt so lost, due to my own selfish actions. This happened to me like I said three times in my lifetime, even then, Romans 8:28 proved itself true to me above all else, for God forgave me, and I forgave myself in time. God poured out His wisdom upon me after each instance of being a prodigal son,and in this way, God proved His love for me. You have been told 'how' now, so you too can ask, seek and knock yourself, to feed that hunger growing within you. 'After that he poureth water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples' feet,and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.' "Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you." John 13:5,13,14,15... "I will arise and go to my Father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants." Luke 15:18,19 "And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, " This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you." Luke 22:19,20 |
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