When reviled, we bless...

(1 Corinthians 4:12) “When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure;”

Humility before God should be the goal of all creation; it has only ever been about Him and His foreordained plan. The Plan that He instituted prior to creation as we know it and the scripture often makes reference to as “before the foundation of the world” gives me immense joy as it infiltrates my mind. To know that nothing is random, let’s face it if we think it could be then we are candidates for the “soup theory”. The “big bang theory” leaves people chasing creation at a frantic pace, at the exclusion of our God and Creator.

What a dismal position; believing that by recycling our glass bottles and plastic containers we are doing our bit to save our planet. In fact even different colour bins help us with the separation and when we play our part we feel justified. With God not even an afterthought in the minds of so many. The world population is so self-centered that “self” has blinded them; in fact, to be more precise, God has blinded them. “And claiming to be wise they have become fools”. For this very reason God gave them over to the debauchery and the snares of sin. But as the clock ticks and as wickedness abounds the day of His appearing draws nigh.

What then will gives us resolve to be about our God’s business; yesterday, this came to me with some vigour; humility is what is needed because it is the grace of God we need to get through our daily trials. Without humility we will battle to find God’s grace, without it God will resist us. So then, what am I to do? On a practical level, I must learn to eat humble pie even when I am right. It is no longer about winning the round but rather the fight.

May God help all who battle with this facet to their lives, I am amongst the number.  Humility is foreign to our “bodies of death”, without the Spirit taking control we will remain proud and fall every time. Without humility as our banner we will become very frustrated not following our Lord’s and Paul’s example, which was this; “When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure;”

Please sit up and take note, without humility as a key ingredient in Christ, we will forever clutch at straws. There must come a time when we begin to put off childish things. By that I mean, meat is meant for those who are capable of digesting it, whilst milk is for babies. We are quick to point out the errors of others when they apply misguided doctrine, which we all must do in some measure; “preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.” (2Timothy 4:2) – “And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil,” (2Timothy 2:24)

Humility is a partner to patience! But we tend to miss so many areas of our lives; "it's just the way it is”, we use excuses like I am a hot blooded man; it is not my fault I am European, I was born like this. Or God made me with a temper. Not so! All who have the Spirit of Christ have become new creations in Him and Old things have passed away. We are without excuse! Therefore let us see things for what they are.

I love the way God uses the exact man who was school in Judaism with his application to the law impeccable. In as much as it is possible for a sinner to apply himself to God’s law. It is the very same man who would become the expert on grace. How great is our God? Paul ends up teaching us this; “When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure;”    

To bless someone who reviles us is so foreign to our natural understanding, which without grace it will be an impossible task, humility is a must in our lives if we are to find grace. I pray this truth sinks deep and we not only eat from its tree but we learn to digest it.

Signing off

Tyrone.