LENT: What is Humility?
The focus of our reflection this week - on the blog at least - is humility. I entered into last week’s theme (repentance) with a particular course in mind, but was quickly swayed in other directions by the insightful comments. They provided multiple “lenses” to look through, and as my friend Brett says, “Multiple viewpoints tend to capture reality better.”
So in the spirit of communal learning and growing, what are your thoughts about humility … How would you define or describe humility? You can be humbled by something external to you, but how do you become more humble in your character? What do you think is the significance of humility in Lent?
Click the "comments" link below to chime in.
SCRIPTURE READING: Luke 4:1-30
So in the spirit of communal learning and growing, what are your thoughts about humility … How would you define or describe humility? You can be humbled by something external to you, but how do you become more humble in your character? What do you think is the significance of humility in Lent?
Click the "comments" link below to chime in.
SCRIPTURE READING: Luke 4:1-30
posted by Will | 11:08 AM
2 Comments:
"Lead from humility." This was some of the best advice that was given to me from a good friend of mine just a few month ago. And of course since then, I have been trying to figure out what that actually looks like. At this point, I see humility as the opposite of pride.
A good example that I read through tonight with some friends was from the Book of Matthew 8:5-13. In this scripture, a centurion (commander of men in the Roman legion) approached Jesus to heal his servant who lied at home paralyzed and in terrible suffering. After Jesus said that he would go and heal him, the centurion replied, "Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof..." This certurion, who could have leant towards pridefulness, regarded Jesus as Lord and came humbly before him.
I think that we can be humbled by many things external to us. The gospel, healthy community, marriage, awareness of sin, awareness of God's holiness, etc... But to become humbled internally and truly fall to the foot of the cross on all fours is due to the work of Holy Spirit in our lives. Holy Spirit has used all of the above listed external measures and I am sure many more in my life to bring me to a point of humility and yet at the same time I am not near as humble as I should be. As I continue through Lent I pray that Holy Spirit would continue to make me aware of my sin, aware of God's holiness, Christ would become larger in my life, and I would be open to falling humbly before the cross.
Hey J... nice use of "Holy Spirit" without the definite article. That's solid right there.
The best stuff I have read on humility is from Bernard of Clairvaux... I will try to find it and post it tomorrow.
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