A question please ….
Humility… is it practice or grace? Do we need to constantly practice it or God will release grace for it….? I think both assumptions are true. But I can tell you biblically that they don’t happen at the same time. One happens before the other follows in order.
Brethren, the more stripped of pride we are, it is to this degree that God’s grace can be released upon us for “greater works”. I had a conversation recently that placed this on my heart and thought to share.
Prior to your fleshly transformation by the seven thunders, you may never walk to a level where you have no speck of pride in you. You will have to constantly subdue your flesh to the Lord to keep you humble. What we fail to realize is, the Christian walk is not an easy walk. If you seek ease, please go and take another walk, you won’t find ease for the flesh in your Christian walk. Trust me!
There are opportunities for humility or Tests for humility that God throws at us sometimes: One of such is:
Public Rebuke or even Ridicule: How do you respond to a public rebuke that we sometimes tag as ridicule? I have an example to show you. The man whom the Bible called the spiritual father of our Saviour- David, was once ridiculed by a lame man during one of his many trials. The man was practically casting stones at David and cursing him. Read 2 Samuel 16:5-13. David did not display carnality as one of his guards who wanted to take off the head of this man. But he thought as a Godly person should; “Could God have instructed this guy to talk to me in this manner to either test my humility or even achieve more humility in me?” Friends this is how to think as someone with the Holy Spirit. You can measure your spiritual level through how you respond to certain situations.
I was brought up amidst many public rebuke, so I may be accustomed to it already. My father is one that mete many such public rebuke to us so it may not mean ridicule for me. It’s easier today for me to take such as an avenue for humility and not public ridicule as some may assume it .
To conclude, remember the bible never says “I will humble you” rather he says “Humble Yourself’’ Its self-actualized through deliberate efforts. Also, he never said “I will give you grace to be humble ‘’ No! rather he says “He gives more grace to the humble….” So, it’s you who will subdue your flesh first before God will release more grace of ease on you. Don’t be deceived.
Brethren we should seek daily opportunities to kill the flesh. This is what I tell my wife too. If it’s sauce for the goose, I believe it is sauce for the gander.
God bless you.