2019 Further Reflection

Hello again, I have been pondering Father’s intention to give us grace to humble ourselves. See my January 1 Blog. In response to that blog a dear friend wrote a note of encouragement:

“Good word, Stuart. Thank you for sharing. As Andrew Murray wrote, welcome anything that humbles you, for it helps mitigate against pride.”

I replied to my friend, “Alas brother Murray was talking about something quite different from what Father is saying. Murray embraces the things which humble him. Father seeks to embrace the sons who humble themselves and the Bride who humbles herself corporately.”

While I was quite confident of my response, I was reassured when I read again Jesus’ statement at Matthew 23:12:

Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.

Peter also exhorts us:

. . . all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time . . .

This conceptual difference is not one to be overlooked. There is no particular blessing in repeatedly being humbled by the events and circumstances of my life. The grace comes in learning to choose to consistently remain humble. In Numbers 12 we see Moses, who was viewed as the most humble man, in a situation familiar to many of us. The two people upon whom he should have been able to confidently rely began to undermine Moses’ position before the people of Israel. Moses humbly chose not to defend himself and his position. But God stepped in and defended Moses and made very clear His (the Lord’s) relationship with Moses His anointed leader.

It is noteworthy and admirable that Moses further humbled himself and interceded with God to obtain leniency for the ones who offended.

Humbling ourselves is a very important grace in this season of the Kingdom.

His, thus Yours,

Stuart