Just a thought: What are the manifestations of Pride and Humility?
Matthew 5:5: “Blessed are the gentle (humble), for they shall inherit the earth.” (NASB) A heart characterized by gentleness or humility is our next “sign of life”. Humility is not a weakness, but a virtue born out of immense inner strength — the inward strength it takes to admit we are not always right, nor are we the center of our own universe. It takes immense inner strength to deny yourself and allow God’s holy light to expose your weaknesses and imperfections. Only the weak cannot allow their imperfections to come to light, because their fragile egos could not handle the perceived indignity of ever being wrong and/or in a state of helplessness! Instead, as the light (Holy Spirit) attempts to expose their imperfections, they gnash their teeth and growl like a frightened animal that’s backed into a corner. Agitated and provoked, they again look for the comfort of their familiar territory of self-deceit and sin, i.e., the world they were born into. Whereas, the humble are willing to accept God’s dealings as good and do not dispute, nor resist His work within; as they have learned by experience to no longer question God’s love for them and they begin to trust implicitly God’s wisdom over their own.
Isaiah 66:1-2: “Thus says the Lord, ‘Heaven is My throne, and the earth is My footstool. Where then is a house you could build for Me? And where is a place that I may rest? For My hand made all these things, thus all these things came into being,’ declares the Lord. ‘But to this one I will look, to him who is humble and contrite of spirit, and who trembles at My word.’” (NASB)
Prayer: Father, it is written that You resist and hate the proud of heart, but the humble and contrite You embrace and make Your home. Help me to understand the difference so I may also embrace a heart of humility and contrition; making it part of me so Your Holy Spirit may find a dwelling for eternity within me. Amen and Amen!
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The Signs of Life:
