“Humility means staying close to the ground (humus), to people. to everyday life, to what is happening with all its down-to-earthness.”- Eugene Peterson, The Contemplative Pastor (Vol. 17)
“Let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.”- 1 Corinthians 10:12 (ESV)
Joel Muddamalle concludes Chapter 8 of The Hidden Peace with the second and third steps to moving us into a humility mindset and lifestyle.
2. Acceptance. A big gap exists between an awareness of something as true and personal acceptance of that truth. Hence, when you accept something, you declare its truth for you. Above all, you resolve to change your behavior because of it.
Most significantly, Joel views this as especially true in regard to humility. Certainly, in light of God’s greatness, it’s easy to logically lay out all the reasons one ought to be humble. But, Joel finds the step of accepting more difficult. For example, you think that humility makes it possible to get hurt. However, Joel counters, the same holds true if you don’t have humility.
Therefore, Joel stresses, we need to pursue something that helps us get through the hurt. Rather than prevent it.
3. Application. Here’s the pivot point: living it out. Really and truly doing it. Because learning a theology without living it, Joel asserts, is a tragedy. Thus, to embark on the journey of humility requires that we acknowledge our inability to win or achieve it. Because humility comes from Jesus.
Consequently, we must live in and through the life of Jesus, the only One humble in all His ways. So, Joel counsels:
“If our pride leads us into a falsely elevated view of ourselves, we remove ourselves from the soil and ground that brings us stability. G. K. Chesterton said . . . that ‘the fullest possible enjoyment is to be found by reducing our ego to zero.’. . . The safest place for the believer is to be deeply planted in the rich soil of humility, which is in fact the very origin and home of humanity.”
Today’s question: What Scriptures help you in staying close to the ground? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “Saying yes to transformation”