1 PETER 1 CLOTHE IN HUMILITY

March 18

1 PETER 1

5 Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, 7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. 8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. 10 And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. 11 To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen. – 1 Peter 1:5-11

1 PETER 1 CLOTHE IN HUMILITY

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

The Lord God hates and opposes the haughty and arrogant

Clothe yourselves in humility under the mighty hand of God

Do not be fretful about anything for the Lord knows your needs

Be watchful of the schemes of the devil; he wants you to sin

Meditate on the word of God for it is the sword of your Spirit

When you do so, you will be victorious to fight the devil

Obey God’s law for it will be your protection against attacks

It will renew your mind, restore and strengthen your heart.

Peter writes to the church giving them instructions how to clothe themselves in humility. Here are the ways we wear humility as followers of Christ:

·       Submit to authority – God emphasizes the importance of following the order that he sampled for

the believers. Being accountable to the one assigned to you by God shows that you will also be obedient to his laws and will.

·       Be meek and remember that you are in covenant with God – By recalling this covenant, we can

always humbly know God is above us and we below him. He is our God and we are his people.

·       Fret for nothing – this shows that you know that God is in control and that he is all-knowing and

our provider and shield. When we are not anxious, we trust him in all things.

·       Be self-controlled and watchful – if you rely on God, you will have peace and calm and he will

give you discernment when you are being tempted to sin.

·       Know your enemy & have a soldier mentality – Being aware of the schemes and tactics of the

the devil gives you an edge to overcoming his ploys and snares and always ready to wear the armor or God.

·       Embrace and rejoice in suffering – when you see suffering as a path to endure and grow your faith,

you will be grateful that God is strengthening you. You will be amazed in the grace you are given.  It will grow endurance, your character and will mature your faith.

REFLECTION

·       Which of these pointers for clothing yourself in humility are you still struggling with and why?

2 SAMUEL 22 THE HUMBLE ARE SAVED & THE HAUGHTY RUINED

March 17

2 SAMUEL 22

26 “With the merciful you show yourself merciful;  with the blameless man you show yourself blameless;
27 with the purified you deal purely, and with the crooked you make yourself seem tortuous.
28 You save a humble people,  but your eyes are on the haughty to bring them down.
29 For you are my lamp, O Lord,   and my God lightens my darkness.
30 For by you I can run against a troop   and by my God I can leap over a wall.
31 This God—his way is perfect; the word of the Lord proves true;
    he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him. – 2 Samuel 22:26-31

2 SAMUEL 22 THE HUMBLE ARE SAVED & THE HAUGHTY RUINED

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

The Lord never changes his character, he is constantly reliable

To those who are forgiving and gracious, he shows his compassion

To the irreproachable, he shows his righteousness and holiness

To the wicked and crooked men, he brings them punishment

To those who are meek and subservient to him, he brings them counsel

To the haughty and proud, they suffer the consequence of their arrogance.

This psalm written by David is almost identical to Psalm 18. Jesus also repeats the importance of a true relationship with God in the Sermon on the Mount. Because God is our Father, he expects a relationship with us by following these principles of love. Matthew 7 repeats this law of love in which one will be measured by how we measure one another. Morgan comments on this: “In these words we have revealed the principles of the relationship between God and man. God is to man what man is to God.”

These following verses shows us the character of God and what he expects from his own people. Just like David shows us in Psalm 1 the blessed and the wicked men and how God deals with them differently. The Lord blesses those who do not walk in the counsel of the wicked but those who are evil, cannot stand the judgment or the congregation of the righteous because the Lord knows the way of the righteous but the wicked will perish. In other words, if we sow righteousness, we will reap the fruits of the Spirit, but if we sow evil, we will harvest sin.

Proverbs 3:34, James 4:6, and 1 Peter 5:5 reiterates the principle spoken of here. God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.   David Guzik comments “There is something in true humility that prompts the grace and mercy of God and there is something in pride and haughtiness that prompts His resistance and displeasure.”

Humble people do not think highly of themselves unlike the proud ones. True humility means that you know your place and that you acknowledge that God is your Maker and in control of all things. Pride is the opposite of humility. The haughty person thinks very highly of himself that he is blinded to see that someone is higher than him who sees all things and knows all things.

REFLECTION

  • How can we be humbler and let go of pride as Christians?

ZEPHANIAH 2 SEEK HUMILITY AND RIGHTEOUSNESS

March 16

ZEPHANIAH 2

Gather together, yes, gather, O shameless nation,
2 before the decree takes effect—before the day passes away like chaff—
before there comes upon you the burning anger of the Lord,
before there comes upon you the day of the anger of the Lord.
3 Seek the Lord, all you humble of the land, who do his just commands;
seek righteousness; seek humility; perhaps you may be hidden
on the day of the anger of the Lord.– Zephaniah 2:1-3

ZEPHANIAH 2 SEEK HUMILITY AND RIGHTEOUSNESS

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

God calls all his people to give up their idols and to repent

Because they don’t belong to the world, they need to turn from sin

The Lord is patient to his people but warns them of his wrath

He wants them to watch out for wickedness and pride

All his people have to pursue righteousness and humility

Without these two, they are at risk of falling to pride and vanity.

Much is not known of the prophet Zephaniah except that he was Jeremiah’s contemporary and that he prophesied during Josiah’s reign. According to John MacArthur’s commentary “The moral and spiritual conditions detailed in the book seem to place the prophecy prior to Josiah’s reforms, when Judah was still languishing in idolatry and wickedness. It was in 628 B.C. that Josiah tore down all the altars to Baal, burned the bones of false prophets, and broke the carved idols and in 622 B.C. the Book of the Law was found.”

The whole chapter 2 of this book focuses on the judgment against all the nations that go against the Lord and his laws. There is an essence of imminent danger that you can feel as you read these following verses as if doomsday is just seconds away from them. Josiah was going to make the reforms for all these nations who do not follow the Lord’s laws and continue to worship their idols. I think that it is not just for those nations that these prophecies were given to. In our present time in history, this is a big warning for us to watch out for. As we approach the second coming of the Lord, we will be experiencing a lot of signs of the end times. With all the wars going on around us today, we can easily see that those times written in the bible are not far from happening. The call of the prophet is for these unbelieving nations to warn them of the consequences of God’s wrath but also to invite them to come to the knowledge of God and turn towards repentance.

Humility and righteousness were specifically pointed out as the ways to be free from God’s outpouring of his wrath on the evil and idolatry that stirs God’s hatred of sin.

REFLECTION

  • How does seeking righteousness and humility protect us from God’s wrath?

 1 KINGS 21 HUMILITY SAVES US FROM DESTRUCTION

March 15

1 KINGS 21

25 (There was none who sold himself to do what was evil in the sight of the Lord like Ahab, whom Jezebel his wife incited. 26 He acted very abominably in going after idols, as the Amorites had done, whom the Lord cast out before the people of Israel.)27 And when Ahab heard those words, he tore his clothes and put sackcloth on his flesh and fasted and lay in sackcloth and went about dejectedly. 28 And the word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, 29 “Have you seen how Ahab has humbled himself before me? Because he has humbled himself before me, I will not bring the disaster in his days; but in his son’s days I will bring the disaster upon his house.”– 1 Kings 21:25-29

 1 KINGS 21 HUMILITY SAVES US FROM DESTRUCTION

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

No matter how proud and arrogant one has been

There is still hope for them if they repent of their sin

When Ahab humbled himself after being admonished

It saved him from destruction at that exact instant

If you are corrected by the Lord God, it means you are his

Repent and renew your mind and be saved from collapse.

The chapter where this verse came from is the story of Naboth’s vineyard. Naboth, who was a Jezreelite and owned a vineyard just beside King Ahab’s palace. Ahab wanted the vineyard to convert it into his vegetable garden since it was near his palace. He gave Naboth a good offer but Naboth was faithful to follow the Lord’s instruction not to sell it to him since it was also an inheritance from his father. Ahab’s reaction to this rejection was a clear example of narcissism. He wanted that vineyard and when he couldn’t get it, he pouted and got depressed. Narcissist’s world revolves around him. He cannot see anyone else outside of himself. Because of some insecurity, the narcissist won’t admit to defeat and will passively hide their disappointment. But Jezebel, his evil wife, who was another narcissist controlled everything she could have her hands on. She was mad that her husband, who was a king, was rejected by a mere farmer who lives beside them. So, she plotted to take that vineyard by force and kill Naboth by manipulating the whole thing. She wrote letters to the men of the city so they could hire some men to lie and accuse Naboth of something he never did. So, he was stoned to death and they got the land of Naboth.

Narcissism is the highest form of pride anyone can possess. The narcissist’s world revolves only on himself. He has to cover up all his insecurities, weaknesses and phoniness so they could continue to caress their ego and be the center of their universe. It is interesting that as soon as he heard the verdict of the consequence of his and his wife’s sin, he immediately repented and humbled himself. By doing this, he was saved instantly even though the consequences of what he and his wife have done will still have a bearing on his son’s days. We can never gain anything from pride, haughtiness, manipulation and murder. It will always come back at us. So, let’s humble ourselves and focus on giving God the glory.

REFLECTION

·       Give other examples in the bible that were humiliated to ruin because of their pride.

EPHESIANS 4 WALK IN HUMILITY EVEN IN PRISON

March 14

EPHESIANS 4

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. 7 But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. 8 Therefore it says, “When he ascended on high he led a host of captives,
and he gave gifts to men.”]9 (In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? 10 He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.)  – Ephesians 4:1-10

EPHESIANS 4 WALK IN HUMILITY EVEN IN PRISON

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

As a servant of Christ, one is urged to walk with all humility

Unlike the servant of the world who focuses on living for vanity

The true believer prioritizes the needs of the spirit

While the worldly person puts first his physical needs

Because the chosen child of God is given all the gifts and grace

He is able to see God and not himself as the center of the universe

By nature, a man follows his tendencies which leads to wickedness

Only supernaturally and divinely can a man be led to righteousness.

In this account, Paul writes to the Ephesian church instructing them how to be a prisoner for the Lord. Why does he talk in prison language? Probably because most of his epistles were written to the different churches while he was incarcerated. I also think that one of the reasons that he speaks this language of slavery and imprisonment was because of the rise to power of the Roman empire. He wants the believers to understand that God’s kingdom doesn’t operate the same way as worldly kingdoms like the Roman empire who usurps power to control the spread of their kingdom. In order to do so, they have to capture those who do not follow their control. They were the ones who actually persecuted the Lord. In these following verses, Paul shows us that being a prisoner for Christ, he was free. Ironically, it was the same captivity that allowed him to preach the gospel much more than he could have even if he was outside and free.

Paul was not originally the chosen apostles by Jesus, but he was chosen by God himself while he was persecuting Christians. He was used by God to bring the Gentiles who didn’t know God to believe in him. In prison, one is not free to say or do what one wants. But by God’s grace, Paul was still able to hear the Holy Spirit’s leading in spreading the gospel even in the constraints of that prison. As a prisoner of Christ, he explains that walking in humility and in love removes all these constraints because it is the working of the Holy Spirit that enables him to fulfill the purpose of his calling which is to spread the gospel.

REFLECTION

  • How can the Spirit of God free us from different prisons by walking in humility?

DEUTERONOMY 8 HUMBLED IN THE WILDERNESS

March 13

DEUTERONOMY 8

“The whole commandment that I command you today you shall be careful to do, that you may live and multiply, and go in and possess the land that the Lord swore to give to your fathers. 2 And you shall remember the whole way that the Lord your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not. 3 And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. 4 Your clothing did not wear out on you and your foot did not swell these forty years. 5 Know then in your heart that, as a man disciplines his son, the Lord your God disciplines you. 6 So you shall keep the commandments of the Lord your God by walking in his ways and by fearing him. – Deuteronomy 8:1-6

DEUTERONOMY 8 HUMBLED IN THE WILDERNESS

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

When you belong to the Lord, he will strengthen you

He will test you so you can be resilient and strong

It is his way of humbling you so you can rely on Him

You will be like his child who needs nurturing and caring

He will allow you to go through life’s wilderness

So, you can stay meek and be led to righteousness

Remember that he will always provide for your needs

He never forsakes his children and never forgets them.

The writer of this book reminds the Israelites what God has done for them while they were in the wilderness for forty years. Most of all, he reminded them to keep the commandments and follow them so they can multiply and possess the land that God promised them. Moses reminded them of the covenant that they made with their Lord and that agreement had expectations from their end to fulfill. That part of their covenant entails that they go through all the tests and obstacles that will lead them to take the promised land so that the promise will be fulfilled.

In this account, Moses explains to them the purpose of the forty years in the wilderness. It was to keep them humble and dependent on God. Many of them were grumbling about why they had to give up all the things they loved in Egypt. They couldn’t recognize the benefit of being free from slavery because they were attached to the things that they were used to even though they were in bondage. It is like Stockholm syndrome where the victim begins to love the victimizer and the things done to her because it became so normal and part of her life. They cannot see that they are being abused. The abuser tries to bring some pleasurable things so they forget that they are being used and enslaved.

Moses tried to remind them of all the provisions that God brought them as they went through the wilderness for forty years so they can remember the covenant promise they made to God.

REFLECTION

·       Share how you have been humbled in some of your wilderness journeys?

ISAIAH 66 THE CONTRITE & THE MEEK

March 12

ISAIAH 66

Thus says the Lord: “Heaven is my throne,
    and the earth is my footstool;
what is the house that you would build for me,
    and what is the place of my rest?
2 All these things my hand has made,
    and so all these things came to be, declares the Lord.
But this is the one to whom I will look:
    he who is humble and contrite in spirit
    and trembles at my word. – Isaiah 66:1-2

ISAIAH 66 THE CONTRITE & THE MEEK

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

Do you wonder what kind of people the Lord takes delight in?

They are the ones who have a heart that admits sins

He has no arrogance and doesn’t think highly of himself

He is meek and knows his place before His Lord’s majesty

He seeks the word of the Lord for sustenance and strength

He feeds daily on them & trembles to obey what is says

The Lord delights in those who love and fear him

Blessings, wisdom and protection are what God grants them.

In this account, the prophet Isaiah identifies what God delights in. The Israelites were so focused on the temple worship and all the externals of it. The beginning of this chapter narrates God’s thoughts on all their ritualistic worship. The prophet reminded them that God’s throne is in heaven and that the earth is a footstool. In other words, he stresses that although external worship is one form of praising him, he is more pleased with the workings of their heart.

Motyer comments that “contrite literally means ‘lamed’ or disabled, here used with spiritual significance: one who is aware of the damage wrought by sin, of personal inability to stand upright before God.”  Spurgeon gives another comment: “Are you one of those who trembles at God’s word? “They tremble at the searching power of God’s Word. Do you never come into this place and sit down in the pew, and say, ‘Lord, grant that thy Word may search me and try me, that I may not be deceived’? Certain people must always have sweets and comforts; but God’s wise children do not wish for these in undue measure. Daily bread we ask for, not daily sugar.”

The Lord is after our hearts and he doesn’t care for rituals or religion. In fact, James says in 1:27 that pure religion according to God is caring for the widows and orphans and keeping our hearts pure and undefiled. Here, Isaiah stresses on humility, contrite hearts and those who take delight in his word.

REFLECTION

  • How can a believer stay humble and contrite in his heart?

MATTHEW 20 HUMILITY AND SERVING OTHERS LEAD TO GREATNESS

March 11

MATTHEW 20

20 Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came up to him with her sons, and kneeling before him she asked him for something. 21 And he said to her, “What do you want?” She said to him, “Say that these two sons of mine are to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom.” 22 Jesus answered, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am to drink?” They said to him, “We are able.” 23 He said to them, “You will drink my cup, but to sit at my right hand and at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.” 24 And when the ten heard it, they were indignant at the two brothers. 25 But Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. 26 It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, 28 even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” – Matthew 20:20-28

MATTHEW 20 HUMILITY AND SERVING OTHERS LEAD TO GREATNESS

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

In the world system, greatness comes from position and power

In God’s kingdom, greatness is a result of humility and serving others

If you want to be great in God’s eyes, serve your neighbors willingly

Stay meek and never aim for greatness through your own abilities

If the Lord God has chosen you to be one of his children

You will be equipped with blessings to enter his heavenly kingdom.

It is interesting that the mother’s request here is assurance for her two sons to sit on both right and left side of him in God’s kingdom. Don’t all mothers want what is best for their children? That is clearly indicated in this account. But what she asked Jesus here is a guarantee that her sons would have those two places she requested beside the Lord. We humans don’t know sometimes what we ask for. It seems like she doesn’t have enough knowledge of God and his covenant and salvation plan. If she did, it would have been wrong for her to ask for assurance for her sons because that would mean that she didn’t know the plan of God for humanity. It is only God who chooses who would inherit his kingdom.

I love how Jesus answered this when he pointed out the authority of his Father as he is ultimately the only one who chooses who sits beside him and also the only one who elects his own people. In Scripture we know that the right-hand side of God is reserved for Jesus alone and so Jesus corrected her in verse 22 when he said that she had no clue what she was asking for. In his reply, he manifested humility and worship of his Father. He knows exactly where he stands with God. He wasn’t going to give her assurance of the salvation of her sons since that wasn’t his place to do so. Jesus also challenges the mother that her sons must be able to endure the same suffering he would be enduring to fulfill God’s salvation plan. When the other disciples reacted in anger against the two brothers, Jesus explained to them that those who want greatness must have humility and be slaves of the other.

REFLECTION

·       Why do you think it was wrong for the mother to ask for positions for her children?

MATTHEW 11 THE WAY OF THE GENTLE AND LOWLY

March 10

MATTHEW 11

25 At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; 26 yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. 27 All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. 28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” – Matthew 11:25-30

MATTHEW 11 THE WAY OF THE GENTLE AND LOWLY

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

To those chosen by God since the beginning of time

They are given the ability to be gentle and to be meek

To be gentle like a lamb is to have patience for others

It does not judge, discriminate or ignore one another

It is silent and does not boast or keep a record of wrongs

Instead, it gives grace to the weak and the vulnerable

It follows the ways of the Lord which leads to a quiet spirit

It is not heavy laden since Christ’s yoke is easy and light.

This account of Matthew is another prayer of Jesus to his Father in heaven. Jesus praises his Father for the grace he has granted to all those who belong to him. He described the elect as little children. We know that little children are pure and innocent and are gentle and lowly in heart. In other words, God chose those who are not intelligent or full of knowledge but instead, he grants his kingdom to those who are pure in heart. Children are also gentle and are usually humble. Because they haven’t developed yet to maturity, they still have malleable hearts, minds and spirits. They are not like those who have lived long enough in this world who have learned its wicked and evil ways. In Matthew 18:3, Mark 10:15 and Luke 18:17, Jesus used the analogy of being childlike. He says that no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are like little children. Being like a child would mean someone who has no pride or arrogance. They are humble and trusting and open to learn and be taught. They are also very dependent on their caregivers since they still have to grow and develop and have not yet been able to independently do things on their own.

The opposite of being humble, gentle and dependent on God is a haughty, harsh, isolated and self-sufficient person who thinks highly of himself and has no room to give grace to others, especially those who are weak and vulnerable and poor. They also have no need for God. Jesus invites all those who are suffering, in pain, ill and weak, to come to him because he will ease their burdens. Unlike the proud and hypocrites who have no patience for the vulnerable and needy, the people of God are invited to a life of humility and gentleness. To be gentle is to follow Jesus’ justice and meekness and righteousness.

REFLECTION

·       Why do you think one cannot enter God’s kingdom unless they are like children?

ISAIAH 57 GOD REVIVES THE LOWLY & CONTRITE

March 9

ISAIAH 57

And it shall be said, “Build up, build up, prepare the way,

 remove every obstruction from my people’s way.”
15 For thus says the One who is high and lifted up,

who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place,
and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit,
to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.
16 For I will not contend forever, nor will I always be angry;
for the spirit would grow faint before me, and the breath of life that I made.
17 Because of the iniquity of his unjust gain I was angry, I struck him; I hid my face and was angry,

but he went on backsliding in the way of his own heart. – Isaiah 57:14-17

ISAIAH 57 GOD REVIVES THE LOWLY & CONTRITE

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

All those chosen by the Lord, prepare the way for him

Remove all hindrances against uprightness; stop the habit of sin

There is only One God who stands up high and mighty

Bow down to him alone and do not make images of anything

God is close to those who confesses their sins and repentant about them

He revives anyone who knows they’ve sin against a just and loving God

So, all of you who are lowly and contrite, come to the Lord who is full of mercy

You will be forgiven and renewed if you faithfully long to please Him only.

In this prophecy of Isaiah to the Israelites, he warns them of idolatry and shows them that the only way to the right path is through humility and a contrite heart. In verse 14, he guides them to prepare the way. What was he talking about when he say to prepare which way? If you go to Psalm 1, David talks about the way of the wicked and the way of the righteous. He blesses those who walk not according to the advice of the wicked, or those who don’t take part in anything that perpetuates evil or tolerates injustice, mocking God or rebelling against him. In verse 15, he reminds the people of God of his majesty, holiness and power. He was illustrating a God who cannot be defied or mocked since he sits high in his throne and is eternal. How can someone who belongs to God mock him? It is easy to think that we can obey God just like that. But if we do not understand the true nature of our sinfulness against the character of our true God, how can we be able to truly serve him? Our natural tendency is to go against him and create our own little gods. When we do so, we are mocking the Almighty God by trying to create something that doesn’t belong to him. We can only be either in the camp of Satan or in God’s camp. We cannot create an in-between god who caters to our own pleasures and also please God himself. He will not tolerate it. The only way to go is the way of the lowly or the humble. They recognize their smallness compared to an All-powerful God. They have a contrite heart to know they have displeased the true God.

REFLECTION

  • What other ways do we mock God that many people do not recognize easily?