Humility & Grace – Part Two

Continuing Michael’s message on “humility”, he writes that grace is caught and not taught. Jesus Christ was grace personified. The 1828 Webster’s dictionary defines the word “grace” as: (1) Appropriately, the free unmerited love and favor of God, the spring and source of all the benefits men receive from him. The application of Christ's righteousness to the sinner producing a state of reconciliation to God, and (2) The favorable influence of God; divine influence or the influence of the spirit, in renewing the heart and restraining from sin.We cannot know grace unless we know our Lord Jesus Christ. Even though He was God's only begotten Son, He humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even to the death of the cross. Therefore, let this attitude be in you which was also in Christ. Let nothing be done in strife or vain glory but let each esteem others better than themselves.  

The world's standard of success is the opposite of God's definition of success. According to the Word of God, meekness and humility are the hallmarks of God's success. The 1828 Webster’s dictionary defines the word “meekness’ as: In an evangelical sense means humility; resignation; submission to the divine will, without murmuring or peevishness; opposed to pride, arrogance and refractoriness. As the Apostle Paul said, "in my flesh dwelleth no good thing." However, He who was without sin became the perfect sacrifice for sin on our behalf that we may be made the righteousness of God in him.

In Luke 18, Jesus confronted the Pharisees about their pride and arrogance. He told them a parable about a Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector.  I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess’; meaning, I keep the Ten Commandments and all of the Old Testament laws. And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Jesus Christ showed us what it means to "humble thyself under the mighty hand of God." He humbled Himself and became obedient, even unto death. Therefore, God exalted and lifted him up. That at the name of Jesus, every knee should bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord to the glory of God the Father. Our responsibility is our response to God's ability. For I was crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live, yet not I but Christ lives in me.

Victory in Christ is that despite the troubles of this world, we will glorify the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Our joy and rejoicing are in the attitude of our spirit. According to Psalm 1, Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord and in his law. He meditates day and night.  Philippians 2says “For it is God who works in you to will and to do of His good pleasure.”

May we ever live to the praise of the glory of His grace!

Your brother in Christ, Michael