Be Ye Separate

July 24

True Humility

And be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.

1 Peter 5:5b

Humility may be described as a righteous estimate of ourselves as God sees us. It is not a cast-down, self-despising spirit, but a simple feeling of unworthiness, a sense of our own insignificance. Never does it leave room for pride and self exaltation.

A drunkard came home at midnight with a crowd of his drunken friends. He demanded that his Christian wife make supper for them. She promptly complied. After they were done eating, one, who was more sober than the rest, and knowing of her disapproval of their conduct, asked how she could respond so kindly to their unreasonable request. She said that if her husband had died in this miserable condition, he would be miserable forever. It was through this woman’s act of humility to these unreasonable and corrupt men that her husband was saved.

Jesus in His humility stripped Himself of His rightful dignity when He gave Himself up as a servant and became a man. This was not the end of His humiliation; He stooped still lower, in obedience. He went to the shameful cross where He suffered much abuse by His own people. Because of His humiliation, God was so well pleased that He gave Him a position, “That at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow.”

We may say it was only right for Jesus to give himself like this, but what should our attitude be to humility? “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus” Philippians 2:5). Unless we are converted, we cannot experience true humility. Humility brings with it a childlike spirit that manifests itself in meekness, submission, and

lowliness in heart (Matthew 11:29).

As we make our pilgrimage here, may we also be clothed with humility and take opportunities to serve others for the kingdom of God’s sake.

Lester Stoltzfus, Honey Brook, PA

God hath promised to lift on high, he who sinks himself by true humility.

Bible Reading: Philippians 2:1–11; Matthew 18:1–6

One Year Bible Reading Plan:

Acts 24

Psalms 41—43

Used by Permission of Vision Publishers

PO Box 190, Harrisonburg, VA  22803

Phone:  877-488-0901

E-Mail:  [cs@vision-publishers.com]

July 23

Five Steps to Repentance

Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance.

Matthew 3:8

I have often wondered how we can apologize for something like getting angry at someone, and then turn around and do it again only a short time later. We try ever so hard to conquer a habit, but we seem to find no victory. Maybe it is because we do not really understand repentance. How do we find real victory over sin?

1. Acknowledgment. Psalm 51:3. The first thing we must do is acknowledge that we have sinned. If we do not acknowledge that we have wronged a brother when we became angry at him (or whatever else we have done) then we have missed the first step.

2. Godly sorrow. 2 Corinthians 7:10. Many times we are sorrowful simply because others have discovered our sin. “What will others think if they hear that I’m a bitter person?” Godly sorrow means we are remorseful that our sins have hurt our Lord.

3. Confession. 1 John 1:9. We may reason that we have said we are sorry, so what more is needed? Or, if ours is a private sin, we may have only confessed it to God, thinking that is enough. But it is not. I remember a time when I did something wrong that involved no one else but myself. One day I became convicted of my wrong and repented of it. Yet I did not find peace until I confessed it to a responsible person. “Confess your faults one to another.”

4. Restitution. Matthew 5:24. We must also be willing to make wrongs right at any cost. Some relationships cannot be restored, but we need to be willing to do our part.

5. Forsaking it. Proverbs 28:13. If we truly repent, we will want to quit sinning. These five steps must be complete before we have really repented from sin. This does not mean we can escape the consequences for sin, but we can accept God’s grace as sufficient for us and begin to overcome our sin.

James Miller, Evart, MI

It takes humility to admit we are wrong; none to insist we are right.

Bible Reading: Matthew 3:1–12

One Year Bible Reading Plan:

Acts 23:12–35

Psalms 38—40

Used by Permission of Vision Publishers

PO Box 190, Harrisonburg, VA  22803

Phone:  877-488-0901

E-Mail:  [cs@vision-publishers.com]