RESOURCES — SHORT ARTICLES

 

SHORT ARTICLES BY TOM ELSEROAD
	2021-01-08	Humble Yourselves in the Sight of the Lord (Ja.4:10)
		Jas 4:10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up. God calls all people to humble themselves (Mi.6:8; Mt.23:12; Ro.12:16; Ph.2:3-4; 1Pe.5:6). Humility is literally a “lowliness of mind.” It goes hand in hand with fearing the Lord and doing what He commands (Pr.22:4). Humility is not thinking less of ourselves, but thinking of ourselves LESS. When we understand ourselves in light of who God is and who we are, it should cause us to live humbly (Ro.12:3) James addresses the known interpersonal conflicts occurring among his readers. He tells them that envy and strife are not from God (Ja.4:1). What comes from God is grace (Ja.4:6). Our response should be to submit to Him while resisting the devil (Ja.4:7). When we submit to God, our hearts and desires change. We are to live humbly before God and others instead of demanding our own way and causing conflict. The solution to conflict, strife and the expected attitude of the believer, is to humble ourselves in the sight of the Lord (Ja.4:10). James tells us “God resists the proud” (Ja.4:6). If your life seems difficult, is it because God is resisting you? By this time you should know the proper response is to humble yourselves. Jesus said the “poor in spirit” will inherit the kingdom of heaven (Mt.5:3). To be poor in spirit is to admit one is spiritually empty and unable to please God apart from Christ's sacrifice. Those who humble themselves and trust in Christ alone will inherit eternal life from God (1Pe.5:6). 1Pe 5:6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time. The humble person avoids false humility. He is not interested in appearances. The insidious nature of pride is that it can masquerade as humility. Many are proud in their humility. They are proud that they are not proud. True humility negates our pride, and looks out for the good of others. The humble can let go of inconsequential matters and pursue peace and holiness instead (He.12:14). Heb 12:14 Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord. Bowing in humility before the Lord means recognizing that our worth comes from God alone. Pastor Tom Elseroad

 

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