He is Humble {Entry 2}

Firstly, the Christian is humble. He realizes that he has nothing to bring to God. Everything he has, he has first and lastly received (1 Cor. 4:7). He is a poor man who beats on his chest and says "Woe is me" (Lk. 18:13). It has been said, "Heaven is the humblest place on earth" because every one of its citizens knows that he doesn't belong there. Humility is not an abstract reality. Rather, it consistently works itself out into the physical world. Our lips and eyes and hands will always be indicators of what is in our hearts. Someone who has been gripped by the love and forgiveness of Christ. If someone has crossed you twice in one day with the same sin...if he has cursed you even 490 times...you will be able to forgive him. The man who is unwilling to forgive must search his heart for pride. Will he not forgive because he should not be treated in such a way as to be cursed? Will he not forgive because if he does then people will continue to take advantage of his kindness? The man who criticizes things before seeing the beauty in them may also be suffering from pride. He fails to realize that to the pure all things are pure. He fails to see that God has created all things good. Then, after recognizing that God has created all things good can he then loathe sin and its repercussions. The man who is unwilling to accept complements may fall prey to sin and false humility. The Christian will be able to thank God for the gifts he has been given and acknowledge that it was not him, but Christ within. As Spurgeon said, the man who is blessed with many gifts is more indebted than the man who has only one. For the man with many gifts/talents is like a man in debtor's prison bragging to his cell mate that he better because he owes $100,000 rather than a measly $100. Yes, it is the humble who will inherit the kingdom for God is opposed to the proud. The Christian is able to say with Paul: For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. 4 But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. (Titus 3.3-7) By the way, if you're likely to say after reading this post, "I already knew that", you are probably suffering from pride.