Chapter 290—In Humility
Be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth
grace to the humble.
1 Peter 5:5
.
The confiding love and unselfish devotion manifested in the life and
character of John present lessons of untold value to the Christian church.
John did not naturally possess the loveliness of character that his later
experience revealed. By nature he had serious defects. He was not only proud,
self-assertive, and ambitious for honor, but impetuous, and resentful under
injury.... But beneath all this the divine Teacher discerned the ardent, sincere,
loving heart. Jesus rebuked his self-seeking, disappointed his ambitions,
tested his faith. But He revealed to him that for which his soul longed—the
beauty of holiness, the transforming power of love.
The lessons of Christ, setting forth meekness and humility and love as
essential to growth in grace and a fitness for His work, were of the highest
value to John. He treasured every lesson, and constantly sought to bring
his life into harmony with the divine pattern. John had begun to discern the
glory of Christ—not the worldly pomp and power for which he had been
taught to hope, but “the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of
grace and truth” (
John 1:14
).... John desired to become like Jesus, and under
the transforming influence of the love of Christ he did become meek and
lowly. Self was hid in Jesus.
The Lord Jesus seeks the co-operation of those who will become
unobstructed channels for the communication of His grace. The first thing
to be learned ... is the lesson of self-distrust; then they are prepared to have
imparted to them the character of Christ. This is not to be gained through
education in the most scientific schools. It is the fruit of wisdom that is
obtained from the divine Teacher alone....
Men of the highest education in the arts and sciences have learned
precious lessons from Christians in humble life who were designated by the
world as unlearned. But these obscure disciples had obtained an education
in the highest of all schools. They had sat at the feet of Him who spoke as
“never man spake” (
John 7:46
).
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