10-1-10
8-11-03
The beginning of being humbled for the Christian,
is Salvation.
Becoming humble is a life-long process not easily taught.
Not easily accepted by most,for it is crushing to the self.
Yet,there is no more valuable a lesson in self-denial
than the learning of it.
Many Christians know the why of it,for it is in the Word.
The worlds attitude on many of its teachings is
I know the how, now show me the why?
This seemed the prinicipal of many earthly teachers I have ever met.
Humility or becoming humble,is something we want to emulate,for
we see in the word one of Jesus’s qualitys of being.
Yet,many of us find it difficult to know the “how” of it?
It occurs in four instances I have experienced in my walk
over the years with my God.
Salvation is one,foot washing,communion,and being the Prodigal Son.
In all these actions involving the self and total denial of it,
is the result,tiny portions of Gods teachings on humility.
This is one of the hidden qualities of Christ,like the others
which are spoken of but;not easily achieved in living our spiritual life.
Other examples,holiness,wisdom,Gods Agape love,patience,true mercy,
to name a few.
Now much has been spoken of not going on feelings.
This has only to do with either by faith,or by feelings.
As Christians we to walk in faith,discern in faith,and act in faith.
This human quality,as well as spiritual ,has been misinterpreted by many
who have mistaught,and construed to mean all feelings are of little value.
Yet, the Father feels, the Holy Spirit feels, and Jesus certainly has feelings as
the word attests to.
If I am made in the likeness and image of God,and I feel,
I find I cannot love without feelings now,so my God made me with them
for a purpose. Many of Gods gifts serve only purposes in this dimension,and may
pass away when we leave this world.If there is purpose in these gifts then they may
become options for the elect in heaven?
As Jesus instructs us to wash anothers feet,He commands His other
disciples to wash each others feet. Why?
If you understand the workings of selfishness within yourself,
then you know that Obedience to God, destroys ones pride,
the result is small lessons in humility,but; important nonetheless.
When God feels it necessary for a lesson in humility to cleanse
a prideful attitude within you, He drops a little lesson on humility
into your life.
These lessons are rare,but just your participation in them,brings
His wisdom in great abundance?
In becoming the servant,and washing anothers feet,even ritually,
I think of my Jesus,and how He must have felt,the depth of His
humility He knew,and I have never been so grateful for another
brothers beautiful feet which I was blessed to wash than at that
moment.
It is so moving an experience,that I didn’t want to stop washing
everyones feet and praying that night,so enraptured did I become.
We had communion right aftwards,another spontaneous act of
compound humility.
We didn’t have the necessary bread or crackers,or wine or grape juice
for the ceremony at that moment, for it was out of the blue we were led
by the Holy Spirit to perform it.
So we grabbed what was necessary, and God blessed greatly what
we came up with.
I doubt that very few communions were held with potato chips,and
pepsi cola,but God blessed it all the same,as the God who always
honours His beloved Son.
Lastly,I have had three episodes of being the prodigal son in my lifetime.
When I had acted in haste and foolishness,and I knew,and God knew
instantly I had sinned so badly towards other brothers and sisters,
that He dropped His hammer on my heart.
Each time it was necessary for me to beg for forgiveness to the whole
body of believers for my offense of pride.
Each time I learned of the feeling of total abandonment by my God from me.
Such a terrible feeling was attached to this my greatest loss in my then
life, I shall never forget it.
It was like my God shutting a door on me,I have never felt so lost,
due to my own selfish actions.
This happened to me like I said three times in my lifetime,
even then, Romans 8:28 proved itself true to me above all else,
for God forgave me, and I forgave myself in time.
God poured out His wisdom upon me after each instance of being
a prodigal son,and in this way, God proved His love for me.
You have been told “how” now,so you too can ask,seek ,and knock
yourself,to feed that hunger growing within you.
“After that he poureth water into a basin,and
began to wash the disciples’ feet,and to wipe them
with the towel wherewith he was girded.”
Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well;
for so I am.
If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed
your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s
feet.
For I have given you an example, that ye
should do as I have done to you.”
John 13:5,13,14,15…
“I will arise and go to my Father,and will
say unto him, Father,I have sinned against heaven,
and before thee,
And am no more worthy to be called thy
son: make me as one of thy hired servants.”
Luke 15:18,19
” And he took bread, and gave thanks,and
brake it, and gave unto them, saying,This is my
body which is given for you: this do in remembrance
of me.
Likewise also the cup after supper,saying,
This cup is the new testament in my blood,which
is shed for you.”
Luke 22:19,20
In His Grace and love,
lampwickke
xxx









