Clothed in Robes of Humbleness by Mark Roper

A certain virtue that I’m endeared to is Humility.

There is a thin line between being confident about oneself vs and being the only person in your world.

There are some messages you read that make you think carefully about your actions. It is easy to call yourself white until you stand next to a white wall and then the difference is clear.

The message below is speaking in volumes to me and it is on read-repeat because it broke down in details the meaning of humility and backed it up with scriptures. Humility is not an on and off switch but a lifestyle graced by God. From the below I also learnt that if at any point in time, I am despising myself thinking it is humility, it is not. 

Let us go on a transforming journey as we read the below:

Clothed in Robes of Humbleness

by Mark Roper

Colossians 3:12

When asked what the three most important Christian virtues were, Augustine replied, “Humility, humility, and humility.” Yet, this great virtue is in rather short supply in our culture.

There is no way to become a mature Christian unless we learn to be humble.

Colossians 3:12, “…as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

The importance of Humility – God uses broken things.

It takes broken soil to produce a crop,

Broken clouds to produce rain,

Broken grain to give bread and

Broken bread to give strength.

It is the broken alabaster box that gives forth perfume.

It is the broken Peter, weeping bitterly, who returns to greater power than ever.

Biblical humility is grounded in the character of God.

The Father stoops down to help the poor and needy; the Son displayed humility from the manger to the cross.

Before the birth of Christ, no royalty would ever show their humility. That would be too human, too common. Kings have parades & entourages to draw the focus toward them. When Queen Elizabeth last visited America, she brought with her the following items • 4000 pounds of luggage – 4 outfits for everyday she was in America • 40 pints of plasma • Her own hairdresser • Two valets • An official photographer • Two personal secretaries • THE COST OF HER TRIP TO AMERICA WAS 20 MILLION DOLLARS

In meek contrast, God’s visit to earth took place in an animal stable, no attendants were present, there was no place for the baby to lay down except in a feeding trough known as a manger.

In fact, the event, which divided history and our calendars, went by unnoticed except for a few shepherds who came by for a visit.

Humility is the defining characteristic of an unpretentious and modest person, someone who does not think that he or she is better or more important than others.

Shane Claiborne, who spent a summer in the slums of Calcutta with Mother Teresa, wrote about her experience there. She said, “People often ask me what Mother Teresa was like. Sometimes it’s like they wonder if she glowed in the dark or had a halo. She was short, wrinkled, and precious, maybe even a little ornery — like a beautiful, wise old granny. But there is one thing I will never forget — her feet. Her feet were deformed. Each morning in Mass, I would stare at them. I wondered if she had contracted leprosy. But I wasn't going to ask, of course. ‘Hey Mother, what’s wrong with your feet?’ One day a sister said to us, ‘Have you noticed her feet?’ We nodded, curious. She said: ‘Her feet are deformed because we get just enough donated shoes for everyone, and Mother does not want anyone to get stuck with the worst pair, so she digs through and finds them. And years of doing that have deformed her feet.’ Years of loving her neighbor as herself deformed her feet.” 

Humility means that our focus is away from ourselves and not on ourselves. 

The Scripture says, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others” (Philippians 2:3-4).

“True humility is not an abject, groveling, self-despising spirit; it is but a right estimate of ourselves as God sees us.” *PLACCARD WORTHY*

                                      Humility “not thinking less of yourself but thinking of yourself less.”

Humility is quite simply, truthfulness–self-honesty. (Self honesty…I think this is where it gets tricky because for some self-honesty might be ‘I am who I am in Christ Jesus vs I am untouchable because I am a god on this earth.. They are both accurate, but when self is involved, it because a subjective kind of ball game)

A well-known Christian businessman who was visiting a church was asked to give his testimony. He said, “I have a fine family, a large house, a successful business, and a good reputation. I have plenty of money so I can support some Christian ministries very generously. Many organizations want me on their board of directors. I have good health and almost unlimited opportunities. What more could I ask from God?” As he paused for effect, a voice shouted from the back of the auditorium, “How about asking Him for a good dose of humility?”

Humility is a freedom from arrogance that grows out of the recognition that all we have and are comes from God.

“The axe cannot boast of the trees it has cut down. IT could do nothing but for the woodsman. He made it, he sharpened it, he used it. The moment he throws it aside, it becomes only old iron.”

Humility is The way we approach God (..And God created man in His Own Image.. As Christians we have to realize that we cannot get away with talking down to people and then talking up to God. Imagine you created the most beautiful creatures and someone decides to insult the esteem out of them or rubbish them like they are not worthy of air…and they come back on Sunday morning to ask you for your unending blessings?  I guess that is why it is often said ‘Thank God, God is not man!’ )

If we go to visit in a friend’s house, we don’t go in our gardening clothes! We know very well that it’s not the clothes that matter to our friend. It’s simply a matter of respect that we should present ourselves as neatly as we can. The fact that we prepare ourselves to go there is the way in which we outwardly show our affection and our esteem for our friend. So it is with God’s house. 

The parable has nothing to do with the actual clothes in which we go to church; it has everything to do with the spirit in which we go to God’s house. Of course we want to be reasonably clothed out of respect for our Lord but He’s not expecting a fashion parade! 

What He’s looking for is a garment of the mind and the heart. It’s to be clothed with expectation, the garment of humility and penitence, and the robe of faith and reverence. It’s all too easy to go to God’s house without preparation of thought and prayer and self-examination. 

Biblical humility is recognizing we are inadequate, but we are created to be in God’s image

“The truth is this – pride must die in you, or nothing of heaven can live in you.”

Humility creates within us a servant attitude.

In the summer of 1986, two ships collided in the Black Sea off the coast of Russia. Hundreds of passengers died as they were hurled into the icy waters below. News of the disaster was further darkened when an investigation revealed the cause of the accident. It wasn't a technology problem like radar malfunction–or even thick fog. The cause was human stubbornness. Each captain was aware of the other ship’s presence nearby. Both could have steered clear, but according to news reports, neither captain wanted to give way to the other.

Each was too proud to yield first. By the time they came to their senses, it was too late.

Many people do not like the idea of being a servant to others because they feel that they are too good or they do not want to do the dirty work of the Kingdom, but I will tell you that without the humble servant’s attitude that Christ showed. we run a great risk. Jesus is our perfect example of a humble servant.

God gives grace to the humble but resists the proud (Prov 3:34)

In Middle Eastern countries, it was the slaves who washed the feet of guests; here Christ took the place of a slave. He makes this clear to His disciples: if their Lord and Teacher has washed their feet, then they should wash one another’s feet, that is, serve each other in humility.

Stoop Down to Reach God’s Highest Gifts

F. B. Meyer once said: “I used to think that God’s gifts were on shelves one above the other, and that the taller we grew in Christian character the easier we could reach them. I now find that God’s gifts are on shelves one beneath the other. It is not a question of growing taller but of stooping lower; that we have to go down, always down, to get His best gifts.”

The Lord rewards the humble with wisdom (Prov 11:2 NIV) When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.

Humility is the foremost test of a truly great person or leader (Luke 22:24-27)

Oswald Chambers (1874-1917)

We need to remember that we cannot train ourselves to be Christians; we cannot discipline ourselves to be saints; we cannot bend ourselves to the will of God: we have to be broken to the will of God.

There is a great song that expresses the proper attitude of humbleness:

Have Thine own way, Lord.
Have Thine own way.
Thou art the Potter,
I am the clay.

Mold me and make me
After thy will.
While I am waiting,
Yielded and still.

...I am sure you see why you cannot read this just once. 

How you make me FEEL!

Hi everyone! I am glad I have brought a broom to dust off the cobwebs from my amazing blog! What happened? My hands have been pretty occupied and the lessons are piling up on each other over my heart/mind and I am praying for inspiration to share them with you.

One of my lessons is the reason for this new post. I was taking a much needed rest and I just remembered this event and the only thing left from this experience was ‘NOBODY WILL REMEMBER WHAT YOU SAY OR DO, THEY WILL ONLY REMEMBER HOW YOU MADE THEM FEEL’.

I am so glad that my wandering eyes picked this word of wisdom even though I cannot remember what year or from whence I picked it up because it probably was the only thing that saved me in this event.

Now what is this event?

Remember when I wrote on my unique singing journey: Read>> (HERE) and how interesting it has sure been; (You know life is just a maze and I say this because that thing which want we do not want now is something we once prayed for; that thing we neglect is someone else’s prayer point. What is that thing you are looking down on now?) Anyway, i literally moved outside of my comfort zone and of course singing came along with me to a whole new setting and environment. Now where am I going to?

On a certain day, I was earlier informed by the means of a schedule that I would be leading a particular song. I had dissected the song, made it my own and kept on practicing in the only studio that makes me a star- the bathroom. Fast forward to the day we had the general rehearsal and I started doing my thing. There was a little hitch here and there but nothing unexpected until…..wait for it.. I heard those same words again.. Let XYZ lead the song and Somto (myself) do the adlibs that XYZ was already told to do because she was instructed to do. SIGH… this just felt like dejavu for me and I was thinking, really? All this powers also flew across the Atlantic just to do this to me again??  You know you cannot get used to the feeling of being rejected, but you are strong enough to control what happens after.

I switched singing roles with XYZ and was doing her former part (adlibs) and all of a sudden, they were looking at me in positive shock, exclaiming yes, that’s how the adlib sounded in the original song ( Quick point: do not be afraid to go on new paths, you never know where you will shine effortlessly. Sometimes what you are comfortable with could be your worst enemy.  Did I ever tell you that I was once discouraged from adlibbing? Lol)

Oh well, so as XYZ continued (Quick point: I believe this was the first time XYZ was ever leading a song) leading during rehearsals, I carried myself to where the backups where and few minutes later, I was told to go and stand beside her, not exactly sure why this was necessary as the idea was to have the adlibber at the backup corner. Few minutes later, I was told to follow her up on stage and adlib not just the specific part they initially wanted but the whole song (yes, I was confused too), Towards the end of the rehearsals, I found myself singing a solo and adlibbing the whole song.

Now unto my life-lesson mentioned in the second paragraph, this was XYZ first time leading and even with my own little experience, I noticed where work was needed, and I told her we could practice into the night after people left. The practice was a much needed idea if we didn’t want the audience to chase us off the stage.  This was new to her and I was trying to find a balance, in summary we had WORK to do.

Into the night as we practiced, I saw myself almost losing patience because the same mistakes were being made, instructions were still not followed and she kept singing my own part, I just resolved to letting her have her way and giving 10 percent of my presence and voice with the remaining 90 percent reiterating the instructions, when all of a sudden, I remembered myself.

I remembered that this is the first time two people will lead a song on this stage, this is the first time XYZ is leading this song, this is the first real experience XYZ is having of me, this is the first time I actually felt I was ahead of another in this singing ministry, how am I truly handling this? Am I breaking down her confidence? Am I snapping for lack of patience? Am I singing this because they told me or because they believed I would minister through it? If minister, then why am I giving God 10percent? How am I making XYZ feel? After we are done with the 5 minutes or less on the stage, what taste would I leave in her mouth or mind? What am I exhibiting of myself now? If someone did what I am doing to myself now, how would I truly feel- inspired or dejected? If they ask XYZ to do a duet with me after this, would she refuse?

And then this quote hit me ‘PEOPLE WILL NOT REMEMBER WHAT YOU SAY OR DO, THEY WILL ONLY REMEMBER HOW YOU MADE THEM FEEL’.

She is not going to remember my detailed breakdown of how we are to sing the song and make it our own, how I went on an emphasis rant on how she is to stop here and there, how I kept sighing and making snaps in-between, how she is to come in on key and end this way and that way; In my mind I am showing her the path for a pleasant audible ministration, but deep down, I knew my attitude was off and I had to quickly reset it.

I know you might also use the life lesson which says and I paraphrase that you cannot please everyone; Yes I agree to that. However by all means, strive to live peacefully with all men, doing what you can do and always applying the measurement of fairness which is ‘Do unto others as you want others to do unto you’. 

Not neglecting the days of small beginnings because where you were is someone’s present,  where you are was once your future and where you are going is someone’s present.

After XYZ and I ministered the song on the D-Day, let’s say that we left the stage knowing that was not us but God! We were in shock because it surpassed our expectation. People were so blessed that they came to profess it to us!

We are all going somewhere, trampling on someone won’t get you there any faster.

X