Tuesday, November 18, 2008

What to Wear for the Holidays


If true humility comes from a heart submitted to Christ and dead to self, then false humility is born of a desire to exalt self so that others believe we are good. The first act requires the death of self; the second only requires a few acting skills and a little finesse. The first creates room in the heart for a true love and benevolence for others. The second causes others to be used to promote the hungry little idol of falsehood. And it takes over devouring whatever good works are accomplished to exalt the self rather than exalting Christ who dies to offer us a covering for our naked soul.

“Clothe yourself with humility toward one another for God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Therefore humble yourself under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because he cares for you.”
1 Pet. 5:5,6
Verse 10, a little further down, reminds us that God will one, perfect, two, confirm, three strengthen, and four, establish each of us. It is a wardrobe that will not go out of style, year-to-year