A tourist visiting a monastery was impressed with the daily routine of the monks. Awakening at dawn, they would pray for hours, eat little food, spend time alone meditating and reading their Bibles or labor on their farm. Curious about the nature their mission, he asked one of the monks to explain how they were different from the other monastic orders.
“Well,” said the monk, “when it comes to learning, we don’t compare with the Jesuits. When it comes to good works, we’re no match for the Franciscans. But when it comes to humility, we’re at the top!”
It is inappropriate for Christians to attempt to appear humble and downplay the gifts that God has given them. God has endowed each of us with certain gifts that are unique to us. We must accept them graciously, develop them to their fullest, and use them to the glory of God.
If we want to grasp the meaning of humility we must look to our Lord and Savior. Here is one Who was with God and equal to God, but willingly laid it aside. He lived a selfless life of service to others and then suffered a horrible death on the cross for our salvation. In humility He accomplished His Father’s plan doing whatever He could to reflect in word and deed His love.
Pride comes naturally, but not humility. When we do difficult things in a gracious, loving and caring manner – as Jesus did – we are living godly humility.
Prayer: Father, we often pray to be humble not wanting to accept our responsibility to be humble. Grant us a willing heart to set ourselves aside. In Jesus’s Name, Amen.
Scripture: 1 Peter 5:6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time.
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