HUMBLE, continued
Counting others more significant than ourselves
What might it mean in practice to humble ourselves before God and others so that the world out there will know about Jesus?
Focus on the essential
Who are your Christian brothers and sisters?
9If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved (Romans 10:9-10).
Recognize that none of us has a complete understanding
Division has become almost part of our DNA. We have an instinctive suspicion of people from other parts of the Church. Instead of coming to others with grace, we put up barriers of truth that they have to jump over.
Good theology is important but we can almost end up feeling like we’re saved by good theology!
God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble (James 4:6).
Come with both grace and truth
John 1:14 tells us that Jesus came full of grace and truth. We need both. The question is which do we lead with? For the Pharisees, truth was the important thing. Jesus always held truth in balance with grace.
If we want the Church to grow and reach the people out there, don’t think so much about the enemy. He’s defeated. The Church is unstoppable if it is right with God.
If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land (2 Chronicles 7:14).
Are we to condone things that may happen within some parts of the Church that are blatantly not in line with the Bible? No. But neither do we need to condemn them.
Only love will break down the barriers. If you make doctrine the main thing, even if you’re right, you’re wrong.
So how can we motivate others towards righteousness? Teach them about grace. More importantly, show them grace - humble yourself before them. Come to them the way God comes to you: not with a set of laws but with the unconditional sacrifice of His own Son.
Now, watch the 12:33-minute DVD video 5.3.
PAUSE FOR THOUGHT 3
When you come across someone who declares with his mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believes in his heart that God raised him from the dead (Romans 10:9) yet on other matters believes different things to you, how should you approach him? If he is trying hard to convince you that his opinion is the right one, what should your attitude be to him?
What might it look like in practice for you and your church to humble yourselves before other Christians in your area? How might you play a part in that?
Have you felt the need to build yourself up by comparing yourself to others?
Have you felt the need to overemphasize doctrine and “right” theology?
Ask God to give you an opportunity to show love to someone this week in such a way that only He will see it.
Say the Declaration of Humility and Unity every day to commit yourself to answering Jesus prayer in John 17:20-23, which says 20My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— 23I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.