12 Good Reasons to Grow in Humility

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Charles H. Spurgeon once stated, “Humility is to make a right estimation of one’s self.” Here are twelve good reasons to grow in humility.

1. Humility enables you to rejoice in and submit to your sovereign Creator.

A humble heart willingly and joyfully submits to God in all things because he is the Creator and we are his creation:

Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand. (Prov. 19:31)

Be not rash with your mouth, nor let your heart be hasty to utter a word before God, for God is in heaven and you are on earth. Therefore let your words be few. (Eccles. 5:2)

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. (Isa. 66:2)

All the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and he does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand or say to him, “What have you done?” (Dan. 4:35)

“No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.” (John 6:44)

Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”— yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” (James 4:13-15)

By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible. (Heb. 11:3)

2. Humility enables you to respect others.

A humble heart keeps you from thinking that you are better than your neighbor and reminds you that everyone has immeasurable value, as all people are God’s image-bearers:

Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed. (Rom. 13:7)

Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. (Phil. 2:3-4)

Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor. (1 Pet. 2:17)

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.” (1 Pet. 5:5)

3. Humility enables you to recognize your sinfulness.

A humble heart is acutely aware of the truth that we all fall short of God’s holy standard:

And I said: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!” [Isa. 6:5)

[Peter] fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” (Luke 5:8)

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. (Rom. 3:23-24)

If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. (1 John 1:8-10)

4. Humility enables you to forgive others.

A humble heart helps you to always be mindful of God’s forgiveness to you in Christ and your subsequent duty to forgive others who have sinned against you:

“And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.” (Matt. 6:12)

Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven. (Matt. 18:21-22)

“And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.” (Mark 11:25)

Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. (Eph. 4:32)

Bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. (Col. 3:13)

5. Humility enables you to learn well and become wise.

A humble heart reminds you that, in order to make sound decisions and judgments and counsel others, you must listen to and receive what God wants to teach you:

He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way. (Ps. 25:9)

When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom. (Prov. 11:2)

The fear of the Lord is instruction in wisdom, and humility comes before honor. (Prov. 15:33)

Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future. (Prov. 19:20)

6. Humility enables you to walk in God’s ways.

A humble heart is focused on doing all that is pleasing in God’s sight:

He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? (Mic. 6:8)

Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. (James 3:13)

7. Humility enables you to love and serve others.

A humble heart helps you focus on others, loving them, serving them, praying for them:

“Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.” (Matt. 6:2)

Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. (Rom. 12:10)

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant. (1 Cor. 13:4)

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. (Eph. 4:1-3)

Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. (Phil. 2:3-4)

As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace. (1 Pet. 4:10)

8. Humility enables you to be served.

A humble heart allows others to care for us in our time of need:

“‘For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’” (Matt. 25:25-26) 

“If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.” (John 13:14-16)

Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. (Rom. 12:13)

Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. (Gal. 6:2)

9. Humility enables you to be heard by God.

A humble heart shows that you are truly repentant before God:

Because your heart was tender and you humbled yourself before God when you heard his words against this place and its inhabitants, and you have humbled yourself before me and have torn your clothes and wept before me, I also have heard you, declares the Lord. (2 Chron. 34:27)

For you save a humble people, but the haughty eyes you bring down. (Ps. 18:27)

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.” (Isa. 57:15)

10. Humility enables you to be exalted by God.

A humble heart doesn’t seek honor but rather waits for the Lord to do the exalting:

The Lord lifts up the humble; he casts the wicked to the ground. (Ps. 147:6)

One's pride will bring him low, but he who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor. (Prov. 29:23)

“Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” (Matt. 18:4)

“Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” (Matt. 23:12; see also Luke 14:11)

“He has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate.” (Luke 1:52)

“But when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that when your host comes he may say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at table with you. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Luke 14:10-11)

“But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Luke 18:13-14)

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. (1 Pet. 5:6-7)

Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you. (James 4:10)

11. Humility is rewarded by God.

A humble heart waits for God’s reward in his perfect timing:

But the meek shall inherit the land and delight themselves in abundant peace. (Ps. 37:11)

The reward for humility and fear of the Lord is riches and honor and life. (Prov. 22:4)

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matt. 5:3)

“Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” (Matt. 6:1-4)

12. Humility enables you to worship God with a full heart.

When we begin to understand the depth of our depravity and sin and recognize the wrath we justly deserve from God, we will be filled with gratitude, joy, and wonder at such a great salvation we have in Christ our Savior:

Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! (Ps. 100:4)

You are my God, and I will give thanks to you; you are my God; I will extol you. Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever! (Ps. 118:28-29)

Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe. (Heb. 12:28)

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God's Lavish Mercy for Sinners

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Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning Beautiful Christian Life LLC may get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through its links, at no cost to you.

Upon hearing the gospel some people think, “I’m not that bad. I don’t need that much mercy.” Other people think they are too bad—too unworthy, too far gone for mercy to reach them. What does the Bible say?

Before the apostle Paul became a Christian, he was a “blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent” of Christ’s church (1 Tim. 1:13). Yet, Christ’s mercy covered all Paul’s sins and his mercy forgave all Paul’s sins, every last one:

This saying is trustworthy and worthy of full acceptance: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners,” of whom I am the worst. (1 Tim. 1:15)

Jesus bore in his own flesh the punishment for your sin, so that his mercy might cover all your sin.

And so it is true for all who trust in Jesus alone for their salvation. And why can Christ’s mercy perform such wonders? How can he be so merciful?  He can because he suffered the full punishment for the sins of his people. As the righteous one, Jesus was nailed to the cursed tree. He was exposed to the reproach of God’s enemies. Jesus lived a perfect life, but in his death he bore in his own flesh the punishment for your sin, so that his mercy might cover all your sin. This is the surpassing glory of Christ’s mercy.

We may tell ourselves that we are too bad—too unworthy, too far gone for mercy to reach us. We can fall into despair, fall prey to hopelessness, and be tempted to believe that Christ just can’t forgive whatever we have done. The thief on the cross was a man who lived a life of crime and wickedness. He was a criminal who was suffering the just consequences of his actions. Yet, even upon one like this thief, in the agony of his sin, Jesus smiled. The thief prayed in faith, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” And to this prayer of faith Jesus responded with the sweet words of mercy, “Today, you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:42-43).

We are never too unworthy, too far gone for God’s mercy to reach us.

Through faith alone by God’s grace alone in Christ alone, we find forgiveness in the surpassing and sweet mercy of Jesus Christ who died for us. It is this lavish mercy that is your aid through the tragedies of life. Indeed, so many chapters of our lives have sad endings. But Christ’s mercy says, “Do not despair. Do not lose hope, for you have living hope in Christ, an imperishable and incorruptible hope.”

May you rejoice in this hope, and may you embrace it in faith. Every Christian has the sure hope of the forgiveness of sin and the resurrection. In Christ the end of your story has already been written, and it is not a tragedy but rather the best of all endings—resurrection from the dead and a life everlasting to glorify God.

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This article is adapted from “Finding God’s Mercy When You Fail.”

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All of Grace by Charles Haddon Spurgeon

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12 Books I Wish I Had Read as a New Christian

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Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning Beautiful Christian Life LLC may get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through its links, at no cost to you.

There are a lot of books out there on the Christian faith, and it’s not all that easy for a new believer to know which ones are especially helpful to better understand the Bible. After attending a wonderful seminary later in life and reflecting back on my early years as a believer, here are twelve books I wish I had read as a new Christian (some of the below books were available at the time and some have been published more recently).

1. What Is Faith? (Crucial Questions Series Book 8) by R. C. Sproul

Saving faith is not, as is commonly believed, a blind faith. R. C. Sproul gives new and mature believers a correct understanding of what God's gift of faith actually is and how it reveals God's love and mercy for sinners. Click here for Amazon link.

2. Redemption Accomplished and Applied by John Murray

All believers should have as clear an understanding as possible of how redemption has been accomplished and applied in their life. While subjective feelings of peace can come and go depending on our circumstances, Christians can—and should—know that all believers have objective peace with God because Christ has accomplished their redemption in full.

Theologian John Murray explains that "Christ procured redemption and therefore he secured it” (p. 56). Learn more about both Christ’s redemptive work on behalf of all believers and how it is applied in their effectual calling, regeneration, faith and repentance, justification, adoption, sanctification, perseverance, union with Christ, and glorification in this classic book. Click here for Amazon link.

3. The Unfolding Word: The Story of the Bible from Creation to New Creation by Zach Keele

In his latest book The Unfolding Word, pastor and seminary lecturer Zach Keele helps readers make better sense of the Bible from beginning to end, from the garden of Eden in Genesis to the New Jerusalem in Revelation, from man’s creation and fall to his redemption and glorification.

As he surveys each major section of the Bible, Keele connects individual stories and passages to the big picture and helps us better grasp that Scripture is not only a historical story that “unfolded within the lives of real people within the messiness of history,” but also an account of events that took place in ancient cultures with very different ideas and assumptions from our world today. Whether you’re a new or mature believer, this must-read book will not only help you gain a more thorough understanding of God’s redemptive plan but will also cause you to marvel over the cohesiveness of the Bible. Click here for Amazon link.

4. The Holiness of God by R. C. Sproul

It's all about holiness! The problem is that God is holy and we aren't. God is pure goodness, and he must uphold all of his attributes of love, truth, justice, and righteousness. R. C. Sproul explains why a better knowledge of God’s holiness will fill us with awe and wonder—and will help us to understand why we need to be holy through the finished work of Christ on our behalf to stand in God’s presence. Click here for Amazon link.

5. The Fruit of the Spirit Is… by J. V. Fesko

New Christians want the fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; Gal. 5:22-23), but how do they actually go about getting it? In this helpful little book, theologian J. V. Fesko explains not only how believers produce the fruit of the Spirit but also how the work of the Spirit in the lives of believers in the New Testament era is related to the work of the Spirit throughout the Old Testament. Indeed, when we display the fruit of the Spirit, we are experiencing and manifesting God’s Old Testament promises fulfilled! All Christians should desire to grow in holiness, and this book gently guides new believers on how the Spirit is at work in their lives to the glory of God.

6. God at Work: Your Christian Vocation in All of Life by Gene Edward Veith Jr.

New believers may wonder if they should have some kind of ministry. The truth is that the work Christians perform in their daily jobs often is not noticeably different from the work of unbelievers. It can be of similar quality, take just about the same time, and produce similar results.

Theologian Gene Edward Veith Jr. helps us view the Christian's work from God's perspective, encouraging those who find themselves in the grind of their daily occupation and giving guidance regarding how to make wise decisions regarding the work we do in our various callings in life. New Christians will be relieved to know that believers can bring glory to God as they work in all God-honoring vocations in their family, employment, church, and community. Click here for Amazon link.

7. The Hole in Our Holiness: Filling the Gap between Gospel Passion and the Pursuit of Godliness by Kevin DeYoung

New Christians might wonder how they should approach holiness since they are forgiven of their sins solely based upon the finished work of Christ on their behalf. Author Kevin DeYoung writes, "The Bible could not be any clearer. The reason for your entire salvation, the design behind your deliverance, the purpose for which God chose you in the first place is holiness" (pp. 25-26). Sanctification in Christ consists of two parts: the dying of the old self (mortification), and living unto God (vivification). DeYoung explains why every Christian should be focused on growing in holiness. Click here for Amazon link.

8. The Crook in the Lot by Thomas Boston

Jesus told his disciples that they would experience tribulation in this life, so Christians should be prepared as much as possible for such times. Scottish theologian and pastor Thomas Boston (1676–1732) personally faced much hardship as a husband and father: he buried six of his ten children, and his wife most likely suffered from a longterm mental illness.

Based on a seven-part sermon series Boston preached on Ecclesiates 7:13, The Crook in the Lot gives one of the most thorough, helpful, and comforting explanations ever written on God's sovereignty and wisdom in the afflictions we face in this life. You can purchase the book or print out the three-part exposition for free at iclnet.org. All Christians will benefit greatly from this resource regarding God’s purposes in allowing suffering in our lives. Click here for Amazon link.

9. Sacred Bond: Covenant Theology Explored (Second Edition) by Michael G. Brown and Zach Keele

This is a must-read book on the essential connection between the Old Testament and the New Testament. New believers may read the Old Testament and wonder how all the rules and commands apply to Christians today. They will find the answer by learning about God’s covenants. At first glance the covenants of the Bible can seem like strange practices from the long-ago past that have no relevance for us today, but nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, understanding the significant covenants of the Bible is key to making sense of God’s redemptive plan from Genesis to Revelation!

In Sacred Bond, pastors Michael G. Brown and Zach Keele provide easy-to-follow and detailed explanations of each the eight significant covenants of the Bible and what they mean for Christians today. (For more customer reviews, please see the first edition here.) Click here for Amazon link.

10. Christian Apologetics: A Comprehensive Case for Biblical Faith by Douglas Groothuis (IVP Academic)

New believers should expect people to challenge them with tough questions regarding whether Christianity is actually true. Theologian Douglas Groothuis’s purpose in writing his comprehensive textbook Christian Apologetics was to help Christians be better aware of the most common objections and critiques of Christian theism and to better be able to defend the faith by providing biblical and rational answers for the hope they have.

The first part of the book addresses preliminary topics such as the biblical basis and method for apologetics, as well as why truth matters. The next sections extensively examine challenges and proofs for the existence of God and the incarnation of Christ Jesus. He concludes with objections to these truths such as those that come from Islam and the existence of evil. Dr. Groothuis equips his readers with knowledge of worldly objections to God and Christ, and he challenges us to respond and “take it to the streets.” Christian Apologetics: A Comprehensive Case for Biblical Faith is a must-have book for believers who are seeking to be well prepared to defend their faith. Click here for Amazon link.

11. Know the Creeds and Councils by Justin S. Holcomb

Do Christians need to care about The Apostles’ Creed, the Nicene Creed, the Council of Orange, and the Westminster Confession of Faith, as well as other major historical creeds and confessions of the faith? Absolutely. These documents written long ago matter greatly for Christians today, but sadly relatively few believers have read or are even aware of them.

With this handy and easy-to-read guide on the creeds and confessions of the church, you can better know the Christian faith by learning about the important doctrines the church has fought to uphold over the centuries. Theologian Justin Holcomb describes and explains these essential biblical beliefs every Christian needs to hold today. Be sure to also check out Holcomb’s Know the Heretics. Click here for Amazon link.

12. Manual of Christian Doctrine by Louis Berkhof

New believers can have a lot of questions about Christianity: What exactly is true saving faith? Can I lose my salvation? Do I have to do anything to be sure I will go to heaven? How am I an image-bearer of God? Based on his highly respected and more in-depth Systematic Theology, Louis Berkhof thankfully wrote this concise, convenient, and comprehensive handbook on the essential biblical terms and teachings of the Christian faith. Every new and mature Christian will be blessed to have this trustworthy and easy-to-read resource on the doctrines of creation, revelation, the attributes of God, the work of Christ, faith, grace, justification, sanctification, the church, and much more. Click here for Amazon link.

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Le Ann Trees is managing editor of Beautiful Christian Life. This article has been updated since its original publishing date of July 23, 2020.

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What Is the Spiritual Fruit of Meekness?

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But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. — Galatians 5:22-23

What is a virtue, and what makes it good and desirable? Virtues are high moral qualities, and they garner honor because we see them as strengths, talents, assets. A virtue is made of merits and advantages. They have potency and force—they are purities with power. Love can move mountains. Loyalty stands as a rock in a tornado. Joy sets the whole room dancing. Goodness is a courageous bulwark against the corrosion of evil.

Virtues are praiseworthy, for they have the brawn of maturity. Both feminine fortitude and masculine hardiness are the things of which virtues are made. A feeble virtue sounds like vegan alligator. Such a thing doesn’t exist, and if it did, it should be put out of its misery. And yet, the eighth spiritual fruit of Galatians 5:22-23 is gentleness or meekness. How can this be a virtue of the Spirit’s power?

What is the anatomy of meekness?

The first problem with this eighth fruit is what to call it, and this, actually, is not an easy task. Just in the English Standard Version (ESV), this word for gentleness, πραΰτης (prautēs), gets translated in four different ways: gentleness, humility, courtesy, and meekness. The King James Version (KJV) has the classic meekness. Other translations add modesty and gentle behavior to the list. This brings the total to six, so which one is it? So far, the spiritual fruits have been easily recognizable for us, like apples, peaches, pears, and oranges in the grocery store. Yet, number eight is more like a durian fruit, a lychee nut, or a dragon fruit.

The fact is there is no one single word in English that captures well the meaning of the Greek word. Even after rummaging through the thesaurus, you come up with nothing. While we will name this eighth fruit with the traditional label of meekness, we need to further define the word. Think of meekness like a canning jar full of meanings and connotations.

The world’s scorn for meekness is helpful in appreciating what this spiritual fruit is.

We must empty the canning jar of meekness by pouring out its English contents, and then we will refill it with biblical meaning, spiritual associations. There is a plus to sticking with the word meekness, because it isn’t a popular characteristic in our world. In our day meekness is weakness; it is to be spineless, insipid, unassertive, milquetoast.

The German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche denounced Christians for this very virtue. He said that the only reason Christians prize meekness is due to them being weak and cowardly. Only the wimpy prize a weak virtue. The world’s scorn for meekness is helpful in appreciating what this spiritual fruit is.

The word meekness is helpful in that it is associated with a prominent Biblical character, Moses. Moses was very meek, more than anyone else on earth (Num. 12:3). In the flesh, Moses was a walking demonstration of meekness. Such a living definition of meekness gives us a solid anchor to tether our understanding.

You can’t make meekness without humility.

Before getting to Moses, we have some filling to do. We have our empty jar of meekness, and the first ingredient is one-fifth of a cup of humility. You can’t make meekness without humility—our bending the knee before our God as sinners—though the variety of humility that belongs to meekness isn’t so much decrying our worthlessness.

As sinners we are pathetic insects. This is true, but meekness has the humility of being more interested in others than self. As Paul states in Philippians 2:3, in humility we count others more significant that ourselves instead of acting in selfish ambition or conceit. Meekness prefers to listen to how someone’s day was, rather than talk about itself.

Meekness is the internal submission and happy desire to obey.

Meekness removes the “I” from the center of your heart and putting God and others in the center. Meekness prioritizes concern for others over concern for self. And this leads to our next ingredient. Into the jar go two tablespoons of obedience. Meekness is the internal submission and happy desire to obey.

Meekness seeks to obey God and to obey other authorities for the Lord’s sake. This is obeying without being preoccupied with yourself, without gainsaying or griping. Thus, the word for meekness could be used for domesticated animals—tame and docile. Meekness is not the wild ox but rather the one trained to the yoke, which is not weak.

A yoked ox has its power controlled and harnessed for good work, but an untrained ox tears the fence down and kicks you in the head. Our meekness happily serves our Lord, having been trained by his love. And along these lines, the next ingredient into the jar are two more tablespoons of teachability.

We show the meekness of wisdom by learning and doing good works.

Meekness includes that reverent and openness to be instructed, discipled, and trained. James tells us to “receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls” (James 1:21). Proverbs states because of meekness there is fear of the Lord in us (Prov. 22:4), and in Psalm 25:9 we read that the Lord leads the meek in what is right and teaches the meek his way. The wisdom from above is pure, peaceable, and meek (James 3:17), and we show the meekness of wisdom by learning and doing good works.

Yes, heavenly wisdom is meek, as it is willing and eager to learn and strives to obey in the fear of the Lord. Meekness makes correction a stimulant, not a depressant. Thus, the first three ingredients of meekness are humility, obedience, and teachability, and these three are kind of like onions, carrots, and celery—they form the base for several virtues.

Meekness focuses on not sinning in our anger.

It is time for the more unique elements. Next into the jar goes a large dose of controlling our anger. Yes, meekness especially relates to anger—our tempers, but it is a little different than patience.

Patience is being slow to anger, whereas meekness focuses on not sinning in your anger. It includes having just the right amount of anger and not being wild and out of control with your temper. The opposite of meekness is being ill-tempered: violent, harsh, and quarrelsome. We are not to speak evil of anyone, to avoid quarreling, and to show perfect meekness to all (Tit. 3:2).

In his letter to Titus, the apostle Paul contrasts meekness with being self-willed, ill-tempered, and violent. Proverbs warns us not to be friends with a man of anger, nor associate with an ill-tempered person. An angry man stirs up strife and digs up much sin. Or for those married, there is the proverb: “It is better to live in a desert land than with a quarrelsome and fretful woman” (Prov. 21:19).

Elders are not to be violent, quarrelsome, or quick to anger but instead to be meek. The ill-tempered person gets overly upset over a small thing—a tantrum over spilled milk. He stays angry way too long; his anger becomes resentment, bitterness, and a grudge. The person devoid of meekness is irascible, snappy, and cantankerous.

Meekness, however, has a calm and gentle temper; its spirit is stable, tranquil, and not easily provoked. Meekness is free from bitterness and contentiousness. Meekness is not the absence of anger, but it is difficult to move it to anger. Meekness righteously and gently expresses the anger. And this brings us to the standout ingredient of meekness.

Meekness eschews power and doesn’t demand its rights.

The secret ingredient of meekness is eschewing power. Yes, power dynamics lie within the soul of meekness and its opposite. Ill-tempered people aren’t just wild with anger; they also demand their rights. They scramble for power to get their way, and they employ power, violence, and coercion for vengeance.

If you disagree with an ill-tempered person, he or she takes it as a personal affront. If injured, such people have no use for forgiveness but instead demand the full redress of the law. They are easily offended and must always defend their honor and reputation, even for the smallest thing. To win the argument, they will shoot you down; if their shot misses you, they will hit with the butt of their gun.

This is the pride of being ill-tempered that is so contrary to the humility of meekness. Ill-tempered pride is all about me—my rights, my justice now, my power, my resources, my way, my win, and so on. It insists on the full use of power for its self-interest, which is why in the face of injury it will take justice into its own hands with revenge.

Such pride has no use for gentleness; instead, harshness and brute force are its only tools. Step on its toe, and it will bludgeon you. The shining star of ill-tempered pride in Scripture is Lamech from Genesis 4—slap him and he will kill you. Thus, meekness is especially a virtue for times of disagreement and friction.

Meekness is more concerned about the other person.

In the New Testament, meekness most often pops up in contexts of correction and response to being reviled. Paul tells Timothy to correct his opponents with meekness, so that God may grant them repentance (2 Tim. 2:24-25). Likewise, if someone is caught in any transgression, we should restore him or her with a spirit of meekness.

Paul asks the Corinthians, “What do you wish? Shall I come to you with a rod, or with love in a spirit of gentleness?” (1 Cor. 4:21). In 1 Peter, when we are reviled for Christ, we should give a reason for the hope that is within us, with meekness and respect (1 Pet. 3:15). Meekness is not concerned with its own reputation or its rights, but it is more concerned about the other person.

So also, meekness understands that forgiveness is preferable to the punishments of the law. Meekness controls its anger from any violence and vengeance. This is the gentleness of meekness. Indeed, another usage for this word for meekness is to soothe, to smooth out. Meekness is soothing and gentle towards others, not harsh.

Moses was very meek, more than anyone else on earth.

Meekness doesn’t take a hammer and chisel to others; rather, it uses sandpaper and polish. Instead of thinking about itself, meekness thinks about what is best for the other person or for the greater good. And this brings us back to Moses in Numbers 12. Now, in the full story of Moses, we see him behaving is all sorts of ways. He is confused and unsure as young man in Egypt.

Moses sins grievously near the end of his life in Numbers 20—not everything he did was meek. Yet, in Numbers 12, his meekness rises like morning sun. There, his own brother and sister, Aaron and Miriam, revile and slander him before all of Israel and before the Lord. They attack Moses and want him demoted.

And how does Moses respond? He doesn’t; he is as quiet as a docile mouse. Moses doesn’t fight for his honor; he doesn’t let his pride get wounded and strike out. Instead, he lets God defend him. Even though Moses had power and authority, he refuses to use the power for himself. He chooses to trust in God. And when the Lord punishes Miriam, Moses asks for leniency and mercy.

Moses doesn’t want his sister to suffer the full brunt of the law. This is meekness, which also shows up during the golden calf debacle in Exodus 32. In a just and controlled anger, Moses rightly breaks the covenant tablets at the horrible adultery of the people. Meekness is not shy to correct what is wrong; rather, it is bold.

Yet, Moses’ manner of correction is gentle, merciful, and seeking good. When the Lord tells him to stand aside to destroy Israel, Moses steps in between to intercede for mercy. Meekness eschews power, especially as the world uses power, and it gently acts for forgiveness. This comes out in another use for this word for meekness in the Bible.

Meekness and poverty are metaphorically connected by their relationship to power.

The word for meekness in Galatians 5:23 can also be used for the poor, the weak of society in the Old Testament. The poor were at the bottom of the social ladder—they had no power, no access to the courts to defend themselves or their rights. The poor were easily taken advantage of and so trusted in the Lord to vindicate them in the end.

Now, poverty is not the same as meekness. To be poor is a state; to be meek is an attitude and virtue. There is no inherent virtue to poverty in Scripture. Yet, they are metaphorically connected by their relationship to power, especially the judicial power that the world so values. As the poor lack power, so the meek avoid power in favor of gentle mercy.

In his incarnation and humiliation, our meek Messiah eschewed the ways of power.

And this bring us to the other primary example of meekness in Scripture who is greater than Moses: Jesus Christ. Interestingly in Scripture, meekness is never attributed to God, but it is an attribute of Jesus, God come in the flesh. So, Zechariah peered into the future and saw the Messianic King coming to his people, meek and riding upon a donkey.

Yes, Jesus rode into Jerusalem in the triumphal entry with the crowds chanting, “‘Behold, your king is coming to you, humble [meek], and mounted on a donkey” (Matt. 21:5; see also Zech. 9:9). At first, the power of the king seems contradictory to the powerlessness of meekness, yet, meekness is not whether you have power or not but how you use it. Meekness refuses the worldly ways of power.

Thus, Jesus as the Son of God possessed all power and might. In his incarnation, he became poor. Jesus surrendered his divine rights to be a human. In his humiliation, Jesus eschewed the ways of power. Jesus was first meek by his obedience to the Father. He came to do the Father’s will, not his own.

Jesus accomplished our merciful salvation in the supreme act of meekness—death upon the cross.

Jesus wasn’t seeking his own honor but rather the glory of the Father by our salvation. Jesus put the Father’s honor and our salvation before his own glory. When Jesus was reviled, he was silent. When the Pharisees blasphemed him, Jesus said that blasphemy against the Son of Man is forgivable, but blasphemy against the Spirit is unforgiveable (Matt. 12:32).

Jesus was not meek towards the demons, but he was meek towards the people. Jesus could be bold in rebuke of sin at times. He pronounced woe on cities; he told Peter to get behind him as the devil. Jesus even cleared the temple by flipping tables. Yet, even by these bold corrections, Jesus labored for mercy and forgiveness.

Jesus was driving people to believe in him for forgiveness. And Jesus accomplished our merciful salvation in the supreme act of meekness—death upon the cross. Yes, the cross is the epitome of weakness, powerlessness, and shame to the world. The cross is the loss of all human rights and dignity. As a silent lamb, Jesus meekly laid down his life.

Jesus suffered in his own body all the violent power of justice so that we might enjoy the soothing gentleness of grace.

Yet, by his meekness unto death, which the world scorned and mocked, Jesus victoriously conquered for our redemption. The meekness of Jesus was his strength operating on a completely different power dynamic than the world. In his meekness, Jesus suffered in his own body all the violent power of justice so that we might enjoy the soothing gentleness of grace.

Far from being weakness, Jesus’ meekness was actually his righteous power to bring forth new creation—and to do this with the sweet manner of the gospel. His meekness silenced the law’s loud thunder against us so that we might hear the tender voice of the Father’s love. Thus, by Jesus’ meekness we inherit resurrection and life everlasting.

Indeed, the perfect image for the meekness of Christ is the Lion as the lamb. Jesus is the Lion of divine power, but he is a lamb towards us. Thus, by the meekness of Christ towards us, we are enabled to be meek as Jesus is. More so, the meekness of Christ shows us that we as believers and as the church operate on a completely different plane of power.

Meekness says, “This is not about me; it is about Christ.”

The world respects the sword, but as the church we have the meek word of the gospel. The world demands strict justice, but the keys of the church are repentance for forgiveness. The world insists on its rights, on being respected, being honored and vengeance for redress. In the meekness of Christ, though, we turn the other cheek.

We give up our rights for the good of others. When others revile us, label us as wicked, and drag our names through the mud, we leave vengeance to God. We pray for those who hate us and want our harm. And when we do correct, we use the winsomeness of meekness; we patiently use sandpaper and not a sledgehammer.

We set wrongs right and rebuke sins and errors, but we meekly do these for the good of others, for the name of Christ, and for the sake of the church. Meekness says, “This is not about me; it is about Christ.” Indeed, meekness is the strength to bear pain. As Jesus meekly bore the pains of hell for us, so we meekly endure reproaches, evils, and crimes against us.

Meekness flexes its muscles not by using the weapons of the world but by speaking the name of Jesus.

In this way the ultimate expression of meekness is martyrdom. For the name of Christ, for doing what is right, the world will condemn us; it will execute us for high treason. Falsely accused, the evil world will hate, abuse, and kill us. In such a time of trial, meekness flexes its muscles not by using the weapons of the world but by speaking the name of Jesus.

Meekly, we defend the truth of the gospel without defending ourselves. Rather, like Stephen the Meek, as the stones fall upon us, with eyes upon Christ, we pray, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:24 KJV). Yes, the church is built on the meekness of Christ and the meek blood of the martyrs.

And it is only now that we come to understand, “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth” (Matt. 5:5 KJV). This blessing on the meek is not about some terrestrial plot of ground; instead, it is heavenly. The land in this blessing is the new heavens and the new earth. And Jesus grants heaven to the meek for they humbly detest themselves and the power of the world to rest in the merit of Christ alone.

God’s children wear the insult of meekness as a compliment.

Jesus let go of his very life, being humble to death, to win the resurrection by his righteous meekness. So also, in the merit of Jesus we imitate Christ to gain heaven through meekness, and with this, meekness has taken its pride of place as precious fruit of the Spirit. Our growing in meekness is our reflecting the soothing gentleness of Christ unto heaven.

The world will continue to shame meekness as a weakness not worthy of the name of virtue, but God’s children wear the insult of meekness as a compliment. For there is no higher privilege for us than to resemble our Savior in meekness in life and death for the glory of our heavenly Father. Let us then treasure the meekness of Christ as the gospel of grace, and may we flourish in the meekness of wisdom for the praise of Christ’s name.

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Only Christ

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Part of always following Jesus means a call to exclusivity—that is, not only must you always follow Jesus, you must only follow Jesus.

See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. (Col. 2:8)

The Colossian church was dealing with some doctrinal issues—exactly what they were is hard to pin down, but it seems that false teachers were slowly sneaking in and adding bits and pieces to the faith. That’s what the apostle Paul means in Colossians 2:8 when he says “philosophy.”

Paul is not speaking of the academic practice of philosophy, which is not inherently sinful; rather, he is referring to inventions of the human mind—dangerous ideas that were new on the scene. Be wary of new ideas, friends. Charles Spurgeon once said, “Be assured that there is nothing new to theology except that which is false.”

Be wary of man-made religious rules.

Paul's response to man-made tradition (whether Jewish or pagan) is the same:

These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh. (Col. 2:23)

An “appearance of wisdom.” That should cause us to pause, shouldn’t it? Man-made religion—man-made religious elements—can have an appearance of wisdom, especially when compared with the Christianity of the Bible. Is Christ the only way? That’s what the Bible says.

Yet, what if we throw in some works? Many of us are swept away and caught in the trap of legalism. Why? Because it has an appearance of wisdom! Because it makes sense—it’s plausible, it’s attractive. We like the idea of being able to earn something. But Christ says, “No, you don’t have to do anything. I’ve done it all for you. No works, no ceremonies, no asceticism. Just me.”

Man-made religion has the appearance of wisdom. 

Our law-wired hearts don’t know what to make of that. Yes, man-made religion and regulations may have an appearance of wisdom, but that’s all it is—an appearance, a mirage. But they are of no effect in stopping the indulgence of the flesh, in stopping sin, in saving your soul. Remember:

God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose was is weak in the world to shame the strong. God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. (1 Cor. 1:27-29)

Are you being swept away by your own inventions? This is a very serious concern.

Watch out for subtle distortions over long periods of time.

Let’s look at the language Paul uses. The word “see” is a word that implies being on guard or on the lookout—to be vigilant, alert. Prison guards are trained to do just that. And you know what never gets by them? A mad dash for the fence during time in the yard. But what about a patient, methodical plan that unfolds over months or even years?

Perhaps you remember the story a few years ago of the infamous drug lord Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán’s escape from a Mexican prison. They found a 60-foot hole underneath the shower drain that led to a mile-long tunnel with a motorcycle rigged to a track. The track led to the basement of a newly constructed home, which was of course deserted by the time the authorities got there. How long do you think that escape plan took? A few days, weeks? Closer to years, probably.

The seemingly foolishness of the cross of Christ is your path to freedom.

Blatant heresies hardly ever go unnoticed. But subtle distortions of the truth—lies that slowly chip away at the foundation—are much more dangerous. We always need to be vigilant and on the lookout, because these errors, these false doctrines, will take us captive. They don’t cozy on up next to us. They don’t live peaceably with us. They don’t share the pew with us. They own us. They enslave us. The wisdom of the world will enslave you, but what appears to the world to be the foolishness of the cross of Christ will set you free:

For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. (1 Cor. 1:18)

The difference between authentic Christianity and some perversion of it is this: the perversion will have the handprints of humans all over it, while authentic Christianity will only have the handprints of Christ. Real Christianity is only Christ.

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Jonathan Landry Cruse is the pastor of Community Presbyterian Church (OPC) in Kalamazoo, MI. He is a published hymn author and his works can be viewed at www.HymnsOfDevotion.com. He is also the author of The Christian’s True Identity: What It Means to Be in Christ.

This article was originally published on Beautiful Christian Life on September 25, 2018.

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3 Good Things to Remember When Life Is Hard

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Last year, during our trip to Israel, I had the opportunity to visit En Gedi. The word En Gedi means “spring of the wild goat.” En Gedi is a lush and vibrant oasis in the middle of the Judean Wilderness. What makes it so remarkable is its close proximity to the Dead Sea. Everything in the surrounding area is lifeless. Yet, wild goats feed off the verdant plants that grow at En Gedi. A steady flowing stream of water rushes through the middle of the oasis. Surrounding this stream are rocky cliffs spotted with caves. It is in those caves where David hid while on the run from King Saul in the Old Testament.

1 Samuel 24:1-2 says,

When Saul returned from following the Philistines, he was told, “Behold, David is in the wilderness of Engedi.” Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel and went to seek David and his men in front of the Wildgoats’ Rocks.

In those caves, frightened and alone, David penned at least two psalms, Psalm 57 and 142.

Many of us know what it’s like to be at the end of our rope, to feel stuck with nowhere to turn.

In Psalm 142, David cries out to the Lord for help and hope:

With my voice I cry out to the LORD; with my voice I plead for mercy to the LORD. I pour out my complaint before him; I tell my trouble before him. (Ps. 142:1-2)

He tells the Lord exactly how he is feeling and what he is going through. He says, “My spirit faints within me” (Ps. 142:3); “I am brought very low”; and “Deliver me from my persecutors, for they are too strong for me!” (Ps. 142:6).

While few of us have been on the run from our enemies as David was, many of us do know what it’s like to be at the end of our rope, to feel stuck with nowhere to turn. We know what it feels like to be in despair or to feel lost and alone. We know what it’s like to be afraid. We know what it’s like to face something so frightening, we can’t imagine any way around it. We know what it’s like to look for help and find none (Ps. 142:4).

In the midst of that terrifying circumstance, David turned to the LORD God. He turned to the great I Am for help and hope.

For those of us who find ourselves with similar emotions to what David writes about in Psalm 142, there are three comforting things we can remember from this passage.

1. God knows us intimately.

In verse three, David writes, “When my spirit faints within me, you know my way!” Our God is an omniscient God. He knows all things. He knows the end from the beginning. He is never surprised or caught off guard by the circumstances of our lives. And he knows us intimately. As David wrote elsewhere,

O LORD, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O LORD, you know it altogether. (Ps. 139:1-4)

God knows just what to do in all circumstances. And he knows what is best for us. John Calvin encourages us to rest in the fact that God knows:

God knew the way to deliver him, while his own mind was distracted by a variety of thoughts, and yet could not conceive any mode of extrication. The words teach us, when we have tried every remedy and know not what to do, to rest satisfied with the conviction that God is acquainted with our afflictions, and condescends to care for us, as Abraham said — "The Lord will provide." (Genesis 22:8.) (John Calvin’s Commentaries on the Psalms 119-150)

2. God is our refuge.

David turned to God because he knew God was his refuge. “I cry to you, O LORD; I say, ‘You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living’” (Ps. 142:5). The Hebrew word for refuge is machaseh, which means hope, place of refuge, shelter, or trust (Strong’s Concordance, 4268). David put his trust and hope in God.

In the midst of your current trial, wherein do you place your hope and trust? It’s easy to turn to false refuges, to run and hide in metaphorical caves, or to seek out hope in created things rather than in the Creator. But those false refuges will only let us down. God alone is our place of safety. And it’s only in God that we find all we need. Like the Levites who had no land of their own, God is our portion; he is our inheritance. He is our Father and we are his children. We can call on him anytime and anywhere and know that he hears us. We can trust him to be our refuge and hope in times of trouble.

3. God will deliver us.

David ends his psalm with confidence. “The righteous will surround me, for you will deal bountifully with me” (Ps. 142:7). The armies that surrounded David were stronger than he was, but he knew God was stronger still. He knew and expected that God would deliver him. He knew he would once again be surrounded by God’s people.

Though the effects of the fall ravage our lives, though sin seems to have a grip on us, though evil appears to be winning, God is our deliverer. We only have to look to Christ and what he has accomplished for us in his life, death, resurrection, and ascension. He brought us from death to life. He redeemed us from slavery to sin. He made peace for us with God. He gave us the gift of his Spirit to change and transform us. Because of Christ, we too can face the hard circumstances of life with confidence, not in ourselves, but in who Christ is for us.

Dear friend, when life is hard, cry out to God in lament. Tell him your sorrows and fears. Ask for his help and deliverance. Put your hope and trust in him, for he is your refuge and portion.

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Christina Fox is a speaker, editor, writer, blogger, and author of several books including A Heart Set Free: A Journey to Hope Through the Psalms of Lament, Closer Than a Sister: How Union with Christ Helps Friendships to Flourish, Idols of a Mother’s Heart, Sufficient Hope: Gospel Meditations and Prayers for Moms, and Tell God How You Feel: Helping Kids with Hard Emotions.You can find her at www.christinafox.com.

This article is adapted from “Three Things to Remember When Life Gets Hard” at christinafox.com.

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12 Wonderful Responsibilities God Has Given to Men

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So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them (Gen. 1:27).

Millions of men around the world faithfully strive to honor God in all their vocations in life. Here are ten wonderful responsibilities God has given to men:

1. To Work

The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it. (Gen. 2:15)

2. To Be Courageous

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” (Josh. 1:9)

3. To Be Strong

Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. (1 Cor. 16:13)

4. To Love

And he [Jesus] said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. (Matt. 22:37-39)

5. To Be a Husband

Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. (Gen. 2:24)

6. To Be the Head of His Wife

For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands. (Eph. 5:23-24)

7. To Serve Sacrificially

Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her. (Eph. 5:25)

Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. (John 15:13)

8. To Be a Father

The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice; he who fathers a wise son will be glad in him. (Prov. 23:24)

Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. (Eph. 6:4)

It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? (Heb. 12:7)

9. To Be Compassionate

Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered. (1 Pet. 3:7)

As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him. (Ps. 103:13)

10. To Provide

But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. (1 Tim. 5:8)

11. To Be Accountable

But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a wife is her husband, and the head of Christ is God. (1 Cor. 11:3)

12. To Be Honorable

The righteous who walks in his integrity— blessed are his children after him! (Prov. 20:7)

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. (Phil. 4:8)

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