Insightful Musings on theScriptures

by

Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67

Good morning, dear ones.

Becki and I just returned from our walk/jog. And Dandy dog didn’t come up with a ball before hand…so it was back to primitive sticks.

Upon our return, Becki handed me a little piece of note paper on which she had written a quote from Zig Ziglar that someone had posted on FACEBOOK. It relates to what we talked about the other day re: fear/worry. “F-E-A-R has two meanings: Forget Everything And Run, or Face Everything And Rise.” Good stuff.

Lots to do today. So, bye-bye. Have a good one.

Love, Dad/Ray.

Today I’m choosing to talk about humility. But before I do, I want to say something about Peter. I like Peter—even though I’ve had some reasons to scald him for some of his past words and actions. But he’s real. He has demonstrated his HEART AFTER GOD—along with his glaring humanity. To be sure, he hasn’t always made a priority of humility. This is a quality that doesn’t come natural for him—or me. He has had to learn it over time, time and time again, on the road of bumps and bruises. By the time of this writing by Peter, following many years of experience, we have reason to believe that he knows what he’s talking about—he’s been there, done that, got the T-shirt.

Consider the metaphor Peter uses to illustrate the importance, practicality, and personal responsibility of humility—presenting it as a piece of clothing. It’s easy to understand that every able-bodied mature adult is expected, even required, to dress themselves. Mommy doesn’t do that anymore. In the same way, it’s crazy to pray, “Lord, help me to wear humility—make me your humble servant.” It’s like He says, “I’ll be your Lord and Savior and provide you with the garment of humility—but I’m not your mommy—you have to put it on. I won’t do it for you. So it’s your responsibility to make yourself my humble servant.” Consider also the thought that without the clothing of humility, we could be wearing a stylish, even trendy, garment of pride—or, how about the possibility of displaying naked arrogance?

Notice too that there is a time line attached to the benefits of humility—“…that he may lift you up in due time.” The wrong kind of pride doesn’t lift anyone—ever—not even the one attempting to be lifted by it. But the garment of humility that has been designed and fashioned by a HEART AFTER GOD never goes out of style in God’s view. While this is one of those matters easier said than done, let’s aim to be models! That’s when His grace kicks in.