Godliness: humility and endurance
As I prepare for Sunday, I read Philippians 2. Wow. "have this mind in you which was also in Christ Jesus." OK. I think "godliness" is aptly described by the phrase, "have this mind" of Christ. I find God, through Christ, acting in humility by 1) letting go of his rights, emptying himself, 2) serving those who should serve him, 3) and dying for those who should die.
So, this is humility: allowing others to have more rights than yourself, being last instead of first, and laying your life down. Sounds like Jesus' teachings from the beginning to the end of his ministry. And He lived it as well.
I am also amazed at God's endurance. James 1 says that endurance works through faith for maturity. However, it is God's endurance for us that saves and completes the work in us. If he did not wait on us, both as servant and Lord, then we would already be dead in our sins. See 2 Peter 3:15. His patience is our salvation!
In the end, his faithfulness to us is predicated on his patient endurance. He keeps his promises in truth and loyalty to his plan. He cannot contradict himself, nor does he trust another. He alone is God and sovereign. And he is worthy of our honesty and integrity.
In the end HE DOES NOT ASK US TO DO ANYTHING HE WOULD NOT DO HIMSELF!!!!
So, this is humility: allowing others to have more rights than yourself, being last instead of first, and laying your life down. Sounds like Jesus' teachings from the beginning to the end of his ministry. And He lived it as well.
I am also amazed at God's endurance. James 1 says that endurance works through faith for maturity. However, it is God's endurance for us that saves and completes the work in us. If he did not wait on us, both as servant and Lord, then we would already be dead in our sins. See 2 Peter 3:15. His patience is our salvation!
In the end, his faithfulness to us is predicated on his patient endurance. He keeps his promises in truth and loyalty to his plan. He cannot contradict himself, nor does he trust another. He alone is God and sovereign. And he is worthy of our honesty and integrity.
In the end HE DOES NOT ASK US TO DO ANYTHING HE WOULD NOT DO HIMSELF!!!!
posted by Randy Rogers at
11:19 AM
4 Comments:
Humility is a term which has a similar encounter to repentance. They both semm to be things, or attitudes which we must adapt to ourselves, otherwise God will take care of them for us in ways we may have a hard time understanding the consequence we find.
Humility is a term which has a similar encounter to repentance. They both semm to be things, or attitudes which we must adapt to ourselves, otherwise God will take care of them for us in ways we may have a hard time understanding the consequence we find.
here is a weblg that attempts to define and illustrate one of the fruits--forgiveness.
http://middlekid.typepad.com/my_weblog/2008/06/forgiveness-5-r.html
Robert
great post of forgiveness, and timely for me. thanks for the insight.
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