Humble Yourselves

Did you know that God expects us to humble ourselves? It’s our duty to go before God, submit to Him freely, and work out His plan for our lives as we walk with Him. Have you ever noticed that God works in the lives of those who want Him in their lives. Those that continually reject God He calls reprobate. Read Romans chapter one and you’ll get the idea.

It is true in the Torah that God humbled the people. They were rebellious, hard hearted, and constantly breaking their covenant with Him. After much admonition and exhortation to bring the people back to Him, God would give them over to their destructive ways. The curse would come upon them, and they’d have to pay the price for their rebellion. God humbled them in the sense that they got what they wanted, but they didn’t like it. That was never God’s best or first choice. In fact, it was the last thing God allowed, but He did it because it had to be done.

Furthermore, those in the Old Covenant weren’t spiritually alive with God’s life; God’s eternal life—Zoe. God had to work with the spiritually dead differently than the born again. Jesus came that we might “have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” (John 10:10). When we’re born again, we are made alive spiritually with the life of Jesus, and are given His Spirit. We become the temple of God (2 Corinthians 6:16).

Jesus Corrects The Churches

Of course, I’m not saying God doesn’t correct His children. He definitely does. “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16–17). God always starts correcting with His word. Of course, we have to be in His word to hear His word. If we’re out of fellowship with God, we put ourselves in a position to allow the enemy to take advantage of us. God may allow this in order to get our attention and turn back to Him, but that’s not God’s best, nor is He quick to do so. Look at how long suffering God was with those in the Old Testament: prophet after prophet, year after year God worked with Israel. See how patient Jesus was with the churches in Revelation chapters two and three. How did Jesus correct the churches? Firstly, by His word.

What was to be the end result of those churches that refused to listen to correction? Some very bad things like “I will vomit you out of My mouth”, and “blot out his name from the Book of Life.”

What is it that Jesus was wanting from the churches? For them to humble themselves. If they were unwilling too, then they had to pay a high price. If they were to humble themselves, repent, and overcome, they would “be clothed in white garments.”

Humble Yourselves

Peter said it clearly: “Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time” (1 Peter 5:6; emphasis mine). Who’s to do the humbling? We are to humble ourselves. How do we humble ourselves? Is it by playing church and looking good for people? No, my friends. It’s by the obedience of faith in His word.

If we reject His word, we reject Him. The measure we use to honor His word, is what’s measured back to us (Matthew 7:2). In-other-words, the importance we place on His word will determine what we get from His word.

The opposite of being humble is being rebellious. We are to humble ourselves. Rebellion can only lead to disaster.

Jesus said, “Be zealous and repent” (Revelation 3:19). God’s not looking for perfection. He’s looking for the willing and obedient. To be willing and obedient we have to concede our will for His when our desires are contrary. This is being humble.

When we humble ourselves, we’re not giving up the good things in life, we’re opening the door for them. “Every good gift and perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the father of lights“ (James 1:17).

Stay strong and prepared!