Humility is a quality that I’ve been learning about, and it is far more than just thinking less of myself. It’s about recognizing God’s greatness and my dependence on Him. It is the key that unlocks a deeper understanding of holiness and its power in my life. This chapter explores how humility is essential for experiencing God’s true holiness.

What is True Holiness?

Many people talk about holiness, attend meetings about it, and read countless books on the topic. However, the true test of genuine holiness is whether it produces increasing humility. I have found that counterfeit holiness lacks genuine humility. It’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking I’m becoming perfect through my own efforts, instead of relying on God’s grace. I must be on guard against pride creeping in.

The Danger of Religious Pride

Religious pride can sneak into the most sacred places, even the temple of God. I can start to think I am better than others, like the Pharisee who prayed, “I thank you, God, that I am not a sinner like everyone else”. It is a trap to think I am holier than others. This kind of pride can disguise itself as gratitude or repentance, but it’s really just self-congratulation. Even when confessing that God has done everything, I must make sure that self does not find a way to take credit. Humility must be the foundation of my worship.

Recognizing False Humility

Sometimes, false humility is hard to spot. The person who confesses their deep sinfulness can be just as prone to pride as the person who claims to be holy. I might find myself congratulating myself on how well I repent. I must be careful that I am not like the Pharisee disguised as a tax collector. Remember, even the devil can enter God’s presence.

The Link Between Humility and Holiness

Humility allows God’s holiness to live inside me and shine through me. Jesus, the Holy One, exemplified divine humility in His life, death, and resurrection. He is the only one who can make me holy. When I am humble, self disappears, and I see only God’s holiness. My holiness grows as I draw closer to God. The more I have of Him, the more genuine my humility becomes.

Love as the Remedy for Pride

There is a remedy for this false humility, and that is love. Love is patient, kind, and not proud. The power of agape love forgets itself and seeks to bless others. When the Spirit of love enters my heart, God enters with it. God’s presence becomes a constant, under which my soul lives. True humility before God will naturally lead to humility before others.

Putting Humility Into Practice

I am learning that my thoughts, words, and feelings about others are a true test of my humility before God. My humility before God is the only power that enables me to be humble before others. This humility is the life of Christ inside me. Therefore, I must be on my guard against religious pride. It can cause me to compare myself to others. If I have seen the glory of God, my attitude will be very different. I must desire an increase of humility. I must run to Jesus and hide myself in Him until I am clothed in His humility. This is the path to true holiness.

The Importance of Being a Servant

It’s one thing to experience humbling, and another to have a humble spirit. I need the mind of Christ, that considers myself the servant of all. The holiest person will also be the humblest. It is not enough to just have times of brokenness, I must be clothed with humility. I must consider myself a servant of others, showing the mind of Christ.

In conclusion, the path to a deeper spiritual life is paved with humility, and through it, we discover true holiness. As we embrace our dependence on God and model the humility of Christ, we find ourselves transformed. The journey of faith is a constant practice of growth and surrender, a lifelong process that is also beautifully summarized in the article How To Transform your Struggle into Strength where embracing challenges through faith is a journey towards strength.

You can find more on this topic of surrender in the article How to Transform A Life: Embrace Surrender to God’s Guidance. Finally, if you are struggling with feelings of inadequacy or brokenness in your life, and want to learn how to find beauty in that brokenness, you may want to consider reading Broken Yet Beautiful: God’s Power in Your Weakness. Let us always be aware of pride, seek to love others, and let God’s presence transform us.

References

• “Humility: The Journey Toward Holiness” by Andrew Murray