Woe is Me: Three Ways we humble ourselves before God.
“Woe is me, I am Lost!” These are the words Isaiah cried when he first gazed upon God. There is a something to be said for the Glory of God and the lowness of man. Humility that must exist in every relationship begins with a right concept of humility before God. Jerry Bridges says:
“We cannot begin to experience humility in any other relationship until we experience a deep and profound humility in our attitude toward God.” (2)
Below are three ways we can humble ourselves before God.
- Trembling at his Word: When a man is truly humble before God, we are also humble before his Word. Acknowledging that scripture is God’s word, and that God’s word contains “The whole counsel of God concerning all things necessary for faith in life”(1) we are acknowledging that only through God’s word can we live as we should. It throws off man’s ability and allows us to focus on God.
- God’s Grace: When man has humbled himself before God, he is acknowledging that only through God’s Grace can man do anything. Everything in and out of the world operates solely by the Grace of God. When a man realizes and understands this, he will be humble about the gifts and talents he possess.
- Serving Others: 1st Peter says, “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace.” When a man is humbled before God, he will know that the talents and abilities he possess come from God for the purpose of serving others and Glorifying God. Humility should manifest itself in the serving of others.
Pride is one of the toughest sin to conquer and yet, humility before God is essential. Isaiah’s attitude towards God is the attitude we are to have. When we are compared to God, we are lost, but when we are with God, we are saved.
How do you find that you show humility?
(1) The Fruitful Life by Jerry Bridges.
(2) Westminster Confession
I was deeply affected by Stuart Scott’s “From Pride to Humility”. At less than 40 pages, it packs a powerful punch. Also, The Holiness of God by R.C Sproul was a great help in my journey toward humility (not that I’ve arrived). Realizing who we are…left to ourselves…and seeing God in all his holiness. Both are great reads!
This has been on my mind the past few days. In the Declaration of Independence it is said that we hold these truths to be self evident and endowed by the Creator: life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Do you think when Thomas Jefferson penned those words he could have even imagined the wonderous things technology would bring into our lives? These simple truths can now be infringed so many times that are unfair these days. Social media has given each of us the ability to be judge and jury, right or wrong. If that isn’t humbling, I’m not sure what would be. It’s always best to be open, honest and humble. Never know when you may be held up to the scrutiny of others.