“For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” 

Luke 18:9-14

“If anyone would like to acquire humility, I can, I think, tell him the first step. The first step is to realize that one is proud. And a biggish step, too. At least, nothing whatever can be done before it. If you think you are not conceited it means you are very conceited indeed.”

C.S. Lewis

Dearest Believer, 

We have a problem. Pride. Most of us that have been on our walk with the Lord, recognize it rears its ugly head more often than we’d even like to admit. I realize it when I get discontent, when irritated, when I get angry or even hurt. When it becomes about me. My feelings, my hopes, my expectations. The cure, of course, is humility. 

In the parable of the Pharisee and tax collector, the Pharisee praised himself for not being like others- terrible sinners. The tax collector, in contrast, called upon God for mercy.  Humility is our response to God’s mercy. Yet, how often we forget it. How easily we remember to pray for the terrible sins of those around us. Those poor souls who need God’s help. How difficult to remember the sins we committed any given day.

But in His infinite wisdom, God reminds His people all throughout Scripture to “remember”.

The Old Testament is filled with reminders God gives to His people to not forget:

• The day of the exodus out of Egypt (Deut. 6:12) 

He has brought us out of slavery.

• The Sabbath

He has given us rest. 

• God’s care of them during the 40yrs in the wilderness (Deut. 8:2)

He has provided. 

• His mighty works (Ps.105:5)

He can has done great things us.

• That He will not forget us (Is. 49:15-16)

He is always there for us. 

• His covenant with us (2 Kings 17:38)

He will deliver us from our enemies.

The New Testament reminds us:

• That we were once enemies of God, but now are reconciled(Col.1:21)

He has made us His friends.

• That we used to walk in these ways (Col. 3:7)

He has changed us.

• Of the New Covenant of Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 11:24-25)

He saved us.

• To stand firm and hold on to the words of the gospel we have been taught (2 Thess. 2:15)

 …and many, many more!

Why all the reminders? Our human condition tends to forget our own sin. When we forget our own sins, we forget what God has done for us and we become like the Pharisee. 

We must not forget where we came from. Remember to respond to God’s mercy with humility, for He has caused us to be born again to a living hope in Jesus Christ (1 Peter 1:3)! Remember that He rescued us from the wrath to come (1 Thess. 1:10)! Remember God’s kindness that led us to repentance (Rom. 2:4). Remember, it is because of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed (Lam. 3:22)! 

Instead, let us boast in what Christ did for us. It’s not you or I that did anything that we should be haughty and prideful. But only Christ in us (2 Cor. 12:9, Eph. 2:13)! We then can draw near with confidence to the throne of grace to receive continued mercy and find grace in our time of need. Which at least for me, is daily, if not moment by moment. We don’t deserve God’s grace, yet because of His great love for us, He saved us from eternal damnation. If we remember this, humility is possible. 

“As a prisoner of the Lord, then, I urge you, to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle, be patient, bearing with one another in love. (Eph. 4:1-2)

The Lord be with you,  Bianca