Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men. For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another. But when the kindness and the love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour, [Titus 3:1-6 NKJV] A demonstration of a pure Christian life and heart is humility. What is that exactly? Titus links it with a peaceable gentle and obedient spirit. And such it is, and no doubt it is obvious to mention that it is the Christlike spirit which fills that description exactly. Humility has no vestige of pride or arrogance in it; it is ‘without self’, if I can put it that way. The dictionary describes it as low self regard and a sense of unworthiness, but I have known of arrogant people who have been puffed up with pride and yet have such a deep feeling of unworthiness that it has become worthlessness; thus the actuality is not clear cut. It never is where the human heart is concerned, which is why it has to be Christ who gives the answer. And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who did not obey? So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief. [Hebrews 3:18-19 NKJV] The book of Hebrews has in Chapter 4, a magnificent treatise on entering His rest — and what is gentleness and peace if it is not rest? And as we see, entering His rest is a matter for our obedience. |
MEDITATE ON THESE THINGS…Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you. Archives
October 2024
Archive by Title
Archive by Bible VerseAuthors
GEORGE and GILL STEWART |