Ever So Humble part 5
Being humble doesn't mean thinking less of yourself. It means thinking of yourself less. And thinking of others more. Being Christ-centered (people-centered) instead of being self-centered. And humbleness of mind is letting the mind of Christ (that's already in you) BE in you. USING the mind of Christ. So that when you're thinking of others, you're thinking the thoughts of God about them. Guys: If God only has one Word (Jesus, love), that means He only has one thought. Because what's inside comes out. What you think is what you say. And that's important because the Word of the King has power (Ecclesiastes 8:4). What you confess is what manifests in your life--either the world's view, or the report of the Lord. What you do flows from what you believe. Judging people, places, and things with a humble heart--not thinking you're better than anyone, or too good to do something--is how you execute righteous judgment. If you're willing to humiliate yourself for someone else... that's love, man. That's love. Jesus got down on His hands and knees to wash His disciples' feet. Not because He could get anything from them, but because He had something for them. Love is never about getting, because love IS giving. You can give without loving, but you can't love without giving. And if you're thinking about others and not yourself, you can see a need a meet it. You can give what you've got without worry. Without worrying about not having enough, and without worrying about what they're going to do with it after you give it to them. Remember Jonah? He didn't want to preach repentance to Ninevah because he thought they needed to get what was coming to them. But God doesn't think that way. God IS mercy and grace. Mercy being when you don't get what you deserve, and grace being when you get what you don't deserve. In other words, deserve's got nothing to do with it. If we start judging who does and doesn't deserve love, then we've missed the truth that love is unconditional. Love is no respecter of persons. Love doesn't worry about who, or what, or why. Love just... loves. What else could He do? And true love is giving everything you have and everything you are. Laying down your life for your friends. And knowing that you destroy your enemies by MAKING them your friends. By heaping fiery coals onto their heads. Not to hurt them, or burn them, but to melt their hearts. Loving the hell out of people is the only thing that is ever going to make a true, lasting difference. Because change doesn't come from without, change comes from within. When you know (and believe) what's inside... it comes out. Naturally. And that's why you don't need to think less of yourself. You're important. You have what people need. You ARE what people need. Just don't focus on yourself. Don't try to be someone you're not. Be who you are. Be kind. Be merciful. Be humble. Be... love!