“All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.’ Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:5B-7 (NIV)
Nothing truly produces a humble soul within the creature but the Lord Jesus. We are no more able to produce true righteousness, humility and godliness on our own than a car can run without gas or an oil lamp produce light without oil. We can seek to legislate all types of actions but nothing changes the human heart giving it a totally different leaning but Jesus and His power within the soul through the Holy Spirit. He equips us to walk as the Master Who was gentle and lowly in heart. Seeking to muster up our own strength gets us nowhere but tired and defeated. We all need Jesus. We cannot walk as He walked apart from His indwelling power – restoring us to whom God created us to be. And He gains access to our souls only through our consent. That is why Jesus kept urging His original followers and now us as well, “Come to me”, “Follow Me” – when He is within us He directs us and teaches us the way we are to go – for both our good and His glory one never surpassing the other. He does not need us – we need Him.
Humility makes a man glorious. When God graces us with humility, man is glorious without his realizing it. When Moses’ face shown after being in God’s presence, it was unbeknownst to him – but not to others. Interestingly, humble souls are not over attracted to themselves. They do not think less of themselves, rather they think of themselves less. They do not perceive the true brilliance of their shine. Those who go about doing good through the power of the Holy Spirit, “shine like stars in the universe as they hold out the Word of Life,” as Paul writes regarding the church at Philippi in Philippians 2:15 (NIV). Indeed, true humility is attractive dress.
The humble soul is concerned for the glory of God in lieu of their own. They seek to bring glory to God in every circumstance He allows knowing it is for their very best – even in the most difficult of circumstances. They bring much honor to God in their trials and tribulations by not grumbling and complaining (ouch), rather patiently bearing up through His power and leaning upon His everlasting arms. God works out humility in us by degrees. Pride naturally runs in our veins and He often uses afflictions for us to know our own hearts. Ease and prosperity nourishes pride. Remember as well, a little will satisfy the humble soul, but nothing fully satisfies the proud man’s lust for more. The proud are never fully content.
Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands. Deuteronomy 8:2 (NIV)