Tag: seek humility

27.n. “with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love”

 

Ephesians 4:1 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

 Psalms 138:6    For though the LORD is high, he regards the lowly, but the haughty he knows from afar.

 Proverbs 3:34  Toward the scorners he is scornful, but to the humble he gives favor.

 Isaiah 57:15   For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.

 Zephaniah 2:3  Seek the LORD, all you humble of the land, who do his just commands; seek righteousness; seek humility;

 James 3:15-18   This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.  For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.  But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.  And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

 A worthy walk before God will be marked by lowliness and gentleness, not a pushy desire to defend our own rights and advance our own agenda. Lowliness is a glorious virtue and means we can be happy and content when we are not in control or having things go our way. “Do not measure His love by your circumstances,” wrote Al Bryant. “If you do, you must, of necessity, reach a false conclusion. Judge not according to the outward appearance. Never reason from your surroundings. Get to the heart of Christ, and reason out from that blessed center. Never interpret His love by your circumstances, but always interpret your circumstances by His love.”

We, as Christians are to keep the unity of the Spirit in a bond of peace.  We allow ourselves to be wronged rather than seeking retribution or revenge.  We don’t create a unity, that is created by the Holy Spirit and we do well to be able to recognize and keep it.  We do all kinds of things to create unity but seldom do we seek the Holy Spirit’s direction and leading of our heart.  

We are confident that this unity is found in Jesus Christ, by the Spirit of God. “We want unity in the truth of God through the Spirit of God. This let us seek after; let us live near to Christ, for this is the best way of promoting unity. Divisions in Churches never begin with those full of love to the Savior.” (Spurgeon)

Just to be clear, I am not saying we should buy into every wind of thought or that we should tolerate obvious sin as though it was not. Let our hearts be humble before God and with meekness and gentleness allow the Holy Spirit to guide and direct what we say, think, and do for the honor and glory of Jesus Christ our savior and redeemer.

Glorious reunion

Zechariah 14:1  Behold, a day is coming for the LORD, when the spoil taken from you will be divided in your midst.

Isaiah 2:12    For the LORD of hosts has a day against all that is proud and lofty, against all that is lifted up—and it shall be brought low;

Ezekiel 30:3    For the day is near, the day of the LORD is near; it will be a day of clouds, a time of doom for the nations.

Isaiah 13:6     Wail, for the day of the LORD is near; as destruction from the Almighty it will come! Therefore all hands will be feeble, and every human heart will melt. They will be dismayed: pangs and agony will seize them; they will be in anguish like a woman in labor. They will look aghast at one another; their faces will be aflame.  Behold, the day of the LORD comes, cruel, with wrath and fierce anger, to make the land a desolation and to destroy its sinners from it. For the stars of the heavens and their constellations will not give their light; the sun will be dark at its rising, and the moon will not shed its light.  I will punish the world for its evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; I will put an end to the pomp of the arrogant, and lay low the pompous pride of the ruthless.

Zephaniah 1:7   Be silent before the Lord GOD! For the day of the LORD is near;

Zephaniah 2:2   before the decree takes effect —before the day passes away like chaff— before there comes upon you the burning anger of the LORD, before there comes upon you the day of the anger of the LORD.  Seek the LORD, all you humble of the land, who do his just commands; seek righteousness; seek humility; perhaps you may be hidden on the day of the anger of the LORD.

1 Thessalonians 5:2    For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.  While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.

Malachi 4:5    “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the LORD comes.

There is quite a difference between grace and mercy and anger and wrath.  From a human view we can understand just a small portion of what it means to have your grace and mercy rejected. How much more so from God the Creator.  He not only showed His love by reaching out but also in redeeming us through His son Jesus Christ, cancelling all our sin, giving us the Holy Spirit to live in side of us to direct and lead us, giving us precious promises of joy, power, strength, courage, hope, love, peace, happiness, His ever steadfast love and protection, and eternity with Him.  All of these promises come with a qualification – trust in the Lord with all your heart, mind, and soul.  Believe in Jesus Christ and repent, turning away from that old self.  There is no wrath, anger, or destruction in your future.  There will be a reunion with your Heavenly Father in eternity.  I imagine at the time we enter eternity we will see His Holiness in it’s fullest and seeing it we will humbly bow saying Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty.  Remember the time of choice is this side of eternity.  Choosing to live for self will end in destruction.  Choosing now to believe and live humbly serving, honoring, following, and obeying God will not end but will grow into a glorious reunion with God forevermore.

Uttered Judgement

“He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way.”

“For the LORD takes pleasure in his people; he adorns the humble with salvation.”

“ But the LORD is the true God; he is the living God and the everlasting King. At his wrath the earth quakes, and the nations cannot endure his indignation.”

“Who can stand before his indignation? Who can endure the heat of his anger? His wrath is poured out like fire, and the rocks are broken into pieces by him.”

Psalms 76:7  But you, you are to be feared! Who can stand before you when once your anger is rouse?  From the heavens you uttered judgment; the earth feared and was still, when God arose to establish judgment, to save all the humble of the earth.

Psalms 89:7    a God greatly to be feared in the council of the holy ones, and awesome above all who are around him?

Jeremiah 10:7    Who would not fear you, O King of the nations? For this is your due; for among all the wise ones of the nations and in all their kingdoms there is none like you.  They are both stupid and foolish; the instruction of idols is but wood!  Beaten silver is brought from Tarshish, and gold from Uphaz. They are the work of the craftsman and of the hands of the goldsmith; their clothing is violet and purple; they are all the work of skilled men.

Matthew 10:28    And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

Revelation 14:7     And he said with a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come, and worship him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water.”

Revelation 15:4    Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship you, for your righteous acts have been revealed.”

Zephaniah 2:3     Seek the LORD, all you humble of the land, who do his just commands; seek righteousness; seek humility; perhaps you may be hidden on the day of the anger of the LORD.

Living in the this time of grace and mercy of God does not mean He is not storing up His anger and wrath.  We need to be mindful of what it means to our soul to neglect His word and be complacent in humbly serving, honoring, following, and obeying Him.  He is a living God who sees all of our actions and knows all of our thoughts.  Walk worthy of “Him who can destroy both soul and body in hell”.