“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourself with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Colossians 3:12
Humility doesn’t come naturally or automatically to us. Our God-given humanity necessitates a process by which we mature and grow in humility, perspective, and faith. If we have faith in Christ, then God has declared us righteous through his death, but God also wants us to become righteous in our hearts and daily lives, a process we refer to as sanctification.
The incredible truth is that God is not only preparing a place for us in heaven, but He is uniquely and personally preparing us for that place. He does so through our daily living experiences beginning at our conversion, continuing on throughout our lives as the Holy Spirit faithfully transforms our spirit, soul & body, heart, mind & will, by mortifying the deeds of the flesh, cleansing impure motives and thoughts of the mind and heart, as well as glorifying the Father through worship, obedience and faith working in love, often during times of intense suffering.
Recall James words in 1: 2-4 “Consider it pure joy, my brothers,whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
Understandably, given our culture’s propensity to avoid pain and suffering, Christ Followers often want to skip this sanctification growth process and get directly ushered into eternity without suffering. But that wouldn’t accomplish God’s highest purpose for us and is absolutely contrary to the teachings throughout Scripture.
“Every good thing in the Christian life grows in the soil of humility. Without humility, every virtue and every grace withers.” John Piper
UP NEXT: Seriously now, when was the last time you had an intimate transparent conversation about a recent temptation of yours?
Truth: A Bigger View of God’s Word, Randy Alcorn, 2017, Pg 83 Harvest House.