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Blessings on the Humble Man, May 12
And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst
of them, and said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted,
and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom
of heaven.
Matthew 18:2, 3
.
The helpless sinner must cling to Christ as his only hope. If he
lets go his hold for a moment, he imperils his own soul and the souls
of others. Only in the exercise of living faith are we safe. But the
commission of any known sin, the neglect of known duties, at home or
abroad, will destroy faith, and disconnect the soul from God.
Nothing is more offensive to God than a self-sufficient spirit. In
the life of Peter is a sad lesson which should be a warning to all the
professed followers of Christ. The Saviour had faithfully warned him
of the approaching danger, but, self-confident and presumptuous, he
asserted his constant fidelity and zeal, and declared himself willing to
follow his Master to prison and to death. The test came for Peter when
the storm burst upon the disciples by the humiliation of their Leader.
Mournful are the words traced by the pen of inspiration: “Then all
the disciples forsook him, and fled.”
Matthew 26:56
. And the ardent,
zealous, self-confident Peter repeatedly denied his Lord. He afterward
bitterly repented; but this example should admonish all to beware of
self-confidence and self-righteousness.
The men who humble themselves even as a little child are the men
who will be taught by God. The Lord is not dependent on any man’s
talents; for He is the Source of all perfect gifts. The very humblest
man, if he loves and fears God, is the possessor of heavenly gifts. The
Lord can use such a man, because he does not strive to work himself
according to his own standard. He works with fear and trembling lest
he will spoil the pattern. His life is an expression of the life of Christ.
We must constantly cherish meekness and humility, if we would
possess the spirit of Christ.
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