"Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another for 'God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble'" (I Peter 5:5).
When we are prideful, the "accuser of the brethren" is able to sow discord and create division with ease. Why should he bother himself with devouring the saints (I Pet 5:8), when we will do that work for him? "But if you bite and devour one another take heed that you are not consumed by one another" (Gal 5:15).
The Puritan Thomas Brooks gives 12 remedies for resisting the enemy's strategy for dividing Christians in his classic work, "Precious Remedies Against Satan's Devices" (published 1652). The last remedy is "Above all, labor to be clothed with humility."
Brooks remarks on humility cut to the heart; I encourage you to read them to your family members:
“Humility makes a man peaceable among brethren, fruitful in well-doing, cheerful in suffering, and constant in holy walking. Humility fits for the highest services we owe to Christ, and yet will not neglect the lowest service to the meanest saint (John 13:5). Humility can feed upon the meanest dish, and yet it is maintained by the choicest delicates, as God, Christ, and glory.
Humility will make a man bless him that curses him, and pray for those that persecute him. A humble heart is a habitation for God, a scholar for Christ, a companion of angels, a preserver of grace, and a fitter for glory. Humility is the nurse of our graces, the preserver of our mercies, and the great promoter of holy duties.
Humility cannot find three things on this side of heaven: it cannot find fullness in the creature, nor sweetness in sin, nor life in an ordinance without Christ. A humble soul always finds three things on this side of heaven: the soul to be empty, Christ to be full, and every mercy and duty to be sweet wherein God is enjoyed.
Humility can weep over other men’s weaknesses, and joy and rejoice over their graces. Humility will make a man quiet and contented in the meanest condition, and it will preserve a man from envying other men’s prosperous condition (I Thess 1:2-3). Humility honors those that are strong in grace, and puts two hands under those that are weak in grace (Eph. 3:8).
Humility makes a man richer than other men, and it makes a man judge himself the poorest among men. Humility will see much good abroad, when it can see but little at home. Ah, Christian! Though faith be the champion grace, and love the nurse of grace, yet humility is the beautifier of grace; it casts a general glory upon all the graces in the soul.
Ah! did Christians more abound in humility, they would be less bitter, forward, and sour, and they would be more gentle, meek, and sweet in their spirits and practices. Humility will make a man have high thoughts of others and low thoughts of a man’s self; it will make a man see much glory and excellency in others, and much baseness and sinfulness in a man’s self; it will make a man see others rich, and himself poor; others strong, and himself weak; others wise, and himself foolish. Humility will make a man excellent at covering other’s infirmities, and at recording their gracious services, and at delighting in their graces; it makes a man joy in every light that outshines his own, and every wind that blows others good….
Ah! were Christians more humble, there would be less fire and more love among them than now is.”
When we are prideful, the "accuser of the brethren" is able to sow discord and create division with ease. Why should he bother himself with devouring the saints (I Pet 5:8), when we will do that work for him? "But if you bite and devour one another take heed that you are not consumed by one another" (Gal 5:15).
The Puritan Thomas Brooks gives 12 remedies for resisting the enemy's strategy for dividing Christians in his classic work, "Precious Remedies Against Satan's Devices" (published 1652). The last remedy is "Above all, labor to be clothed with humility."
Brooks remarks on humility cut to the heart; I encourage you to read them to your family members:
“Humility makes a man peaceable among brethren, fruitful in well-doing, cheerful in suffering, and constant in holy walking. Humility fits for the highest services we owe to Christ, and yet will not neglect the lowest service to the meanest saint (John 13:5). Humility can feed upon the meanest dish, and yet it is maintained by the choicest delicates, as God, Christ, and glory. Humility will make a man bless him that curses him, and pray for those that persecute him. A humble heart is a habitation for God, a scholar for Christ, a companion of angels, a preserver of grace, and a fitter for glory. Humility is the nurse of our graces, the preserver of our mercies, and the great promoter of holy duties.
Humility cannot find three things on this side of heaven: it cannot find fullness in the creature, nor sweetness in sin, nor life in an ordinance without Christ. A humble soul always finds three things on this side of heaven: the soul to be empty, Christ to be full, and every mercy and duty to be sweet wherein God is enjoyed.
Humility can weep over other men’s weaknesses, and joy and rejoice over their graces. Humility will make a man quiet and contented in the meanest condition, and it will preserve a man from envying other men’s prosperous condition (I Thess 1:2-3). Humility honors those that are strong in grace, and puts two hands under those that are weak in grace (Eph. 3:8).
Humility makes a man richer than other men, and it makes a man judge himself the poorest among men. Humility will see much good abroad, when it can see but little at home. Ah, Christian! Though faith be the champion grace, and love the nurse of grace, yet humility is the beautifier of grace; it casts a general glory upon all the graces in the soul.
Ah! did Christians more abound in humility, they would be less bitter, forward, and sour, and they would be more gentle, meek, and sweet in their spirits and practices. Humility will make a man have high thoughts of others and low thoughts of a man’s self; it will make a man see much glory and excellency in others, and much baseness and sinfulness in a man’s self; it will make a man see others rich, and himself poor; others strong, and himself weak; others wise, and himself foolish. Humility will make a man excellent at covering other’s infirmities, and at recording their gracious services, and at delighting in their graces; it makes a man joy in every light that outshines his own, and every wind that blows others good….
Ah! were Christians more humble, there would be less fire and more love among them than now is.”
Excellent post on humility! Thanks for sharing this (and your blogspot). Will show this to Mike too. Think of you and Deb when I drive by your home. Blessings, dear Brother!
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