Walls Into Windows

Humility

Story of when The “White Belt” that was really a brown belt humbled me.

Humbling or humiliating moments are like glimpses into the windows of who we truly are. Like windows, these moments can reveal embarrassing things we would prefer people never see or know about us.

In the New Testament, the first 4 books are called the Gospel, we hear eyewitness accounts of Christ and the lives of the 12 disciples that followed Him most closely

one of those 12 was a man named Levi, and we now know him as Matthew. Whether he changed his name to escape his Jewish heritage when he became a tax collector, or to move away from his past

Matthew is an amazing reflection of Jesus’ teaching of relationships and forgiveness, and that maybe a reason that Matthew remembers Jesus’ teachings so well

Matthew 18:1 NIV

At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”

in a moment we will look into what led to this moment

You may have never asked this question, but have you ever googled yourself? Have you ever been tempted to post something on your social media just to get a cheap boost of some likes or comments? Or said something to someone to that you knew they would have to say something nice? Be honest

I did, Googled myself, in fact I did it today

But Matthew continues

Matthew 18:2–5 NIV

He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.

Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child Jesus points to this child as a window to a greater truth. This is not about innocence, purity, or faith, but about humility and disregard for social status. Children back then did not think about such things. (Gaebelein, 1984, p.397)

Are You Humble

Don’t just let this question go, think about it for a moment.

Ask the question and make a way for God to search your heart and life,

What would the people who are the closet say to this question?

Did you know that humility lowers your stress and decreases the likelihood of

depression?

Reset Moment:

According to a recent psychological study of adults in the United States, researchers

looked at two major sources of relational stress: the transition to parenthood, and

persistent arguments between partners.

(close the window)

Using measures for stress and depression, researchers measured both partners’ humility

during the third trimester of pregnancy (before the baby) against three months after the

baby was born (after the baby).

And, the more humble the parents were before and after, the less stressed and less

depressed they were.

The same pattern was found when looking at how couples handle the stress of recurring

arguments. Using the blood pressures of couples, researchers found that when both

partners are humble, they not only report being more satisfied in their relationship, but

their blood pressure was healthier and less reactive than when couples (one or both)

were arrogant. (Van Tongeren, 10/5/2022)

Humility opens you up to better emotional and physical health.

But, that’s not all. In a stuffy world that stinks of systems and strategies, of political parties and ideologies that wall people off and pit different “truths” against each other,

humility is a powerful way to air out your soul.

According to that same study above, people who are humble are able to more honestly accept reality, even when it’s difficult

What happened the last time you received some honest or unflattering feedback from someone in your life (not a stranger online)?

Did you deny, ignore, or avoid that feedback because it was uncomfortable?

Did you get defensive and put up a wall to protect yourself and your behavior?

Or, did you open up a window and let that feedback blow through and see if there was some truth in it?

You see the opposite of Humility is Pride, and when we are prideful we do not really see things in the right way.

Pride blinds us to the works that God wants to do in us.

Pride says we are the master

Galatians 6:3 NIV

If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves.

When pride takes hold, we think that we are good, we think that our ways are better but Paul show that we are really deceiving ourselves with this attitude

And in James writes

James 4:6 NIV

But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”

When we are humble, God can work in us, mold us and help us

So what are some ways we can become more humble?

Self-Reflection

Regularly examine your actions, thoughts, and motivations. Acknowledge your flaws and areas for growth.

Psalm 139:23–24 NIV

Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Gratitude

Practice Gratitude by recognizing and appreciating others and the blessing we have.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 NIV

give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Serving Others

Engage in acts of service without expecting anything in return. Put others' needs before your own.

Philippians 2:3–4 NIV

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.