“With Christ in the Wilderness” is based on a Spiritual Disciplines class I taught many years ago. Because Christ modeled these things, Christians consider them important practices.
Although I really, really did not want to write about Humility, Christ modeled it and the Bible teaches it, so it must be foundational to developing as Jesus-followers. And these words resonated with me:
… I’m humble because of who I’d be without Christ.
(unknown)
When I look back and realize how far Christ has brought me, humble is the only word to use. I must remain aware of that.
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Next is the “S” word: Submission. Part of “humbling ourselves” is submitting to God. As humility is the opposite of pride, so submission is the moral opposite of selfish ambition, which the Bible warns against:
To “submit,” then, means to deliberately put ourselves under God’s authority. Instead of vying for position and striving to get ahead, we gratefully accept what God gives.
“It is a posture obligatory upon all Christians:
men as well as women, fathers as well as children, masters as well as slaves.
We are commanded to live a life of submission because Jesus lived a life of submission,
not because we are in a particular place or station in life.
Self-denial is a posture fitting for all those who follow the crucified Lord.”
Richard Foster
If you are thinking that this is impossible, you are right.
A lack of submission is no new or rare fault in mankind.
Ever since the fall it has been the root of all sin …
From the moment when our mother Eve stretched out her hand to pluck the forbidden fruit
and her husband joined her in setting up the human will against the divine,
the sons of men have universally been guilty of a lack of conformity to the will of God.
They choose their own way and will not submit their wills.
They think their own thoughts and will not submit their understanding.
They love earthly things and will not submit their affections.
Man wants to be his own law and his own master.
Charles Spurgeon
Christian submission is not an act of our will. It is divine work. What relief to know that God has provided that rescue!
