Humility for the ancient teachers meant accepting ourselves and others
just as we are, limitations, vulnerabilities, and major imperfections
included, as already equally valuable and beloved of God without our having
to prove our worth by what we accomplish, what we own, what we do right, or
by our status in society and in the church. This meant that humility was
about slipping underneath the whole hierarchical social web of judgments by
which we limit ourselves and one another in order to love and act fearlessly
with power and authority.
2 comments:
It is so difficult to be humble, to find our right relationship to God. We often think humility means lowering ourselves, but sometimes by lowering ourselves we just overemphasize our importance in a different way. Sometimes God is asking us to become bigger, to set aside our low self esteem to take on important work. If we lower ourselves at these moments, we can fail God by not following where God is calling us. Jesus gives his disciples power and authority and sometimes we must use this power in order to be truly humble.
Dear God, please help me to understand the true meaning of humility. Help me to love and act fearlessly with power and authority in your name.
Humility, vulnerability... these are the words that stand out to me in my reflecting on this passage. Humility is God's antidote to my perfectionism and false pride. Imperfectionism and humanness are God's gift to my overjudgmental mind and unrealistic expectations.
"[T]o love and act fearlessly
with power and authority" is such an awesome invitation! I pray for the humbleness to accept it joyfully with open mind, open heart, open eyes and open arms.
Thanks, Lindsay, for posting and sharing.
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