HUMILITY Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders.  Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and   be clothed with HUMILITY, for ‘God resists the proud, But gives grace to the HUMBLE.’  Therefore, HUMBLE yourselves under the mighty hand of God that He may exalt you in due time.”   In the church/kingdom Jesus teaches that there is to be a different   mindset from that found in the political or business world.   It is not to be power struggles and dog eat dog.  Unbelievers  believe that humility is a character trait which expresses weakness and vulnerability that can be used or abused for personal  advantage.  Many in the world devalue   people who express humility or meekness.  Much of what Christ teaches is not necessarily American.  The concepts of    humility and meekness are not terms that usually describe most Americans; however, these are terms that do describe the       disciples of Christ.  In His ministry Christ speaks of Himself as gentle (meek) and lowly in heart (Mt. 11:29).  It is with this mindset that  Jesus invites people to share His yoke and learn from His example.  In Numbers 12:3 Moses is spoken of this way.  “Now the man Moses was very HUMBLE, more than all men who were on the face of the earth.”  The greatest of the Old and New Covenants are spoken of as humble and meek.  These are not negatives.  These are positives.   These positives help people feel comfortable around them regardless of their own backgrounds or insecurities.   The saved are those who will choose to HUMBLE themselves before/in the presence of the all knowing, all powerful, every present, eternal God.  HUMILITY is the only way to approach God.  He knows who and what we are, and we need to acknowledge that He knows the real us through and through. How does one HUMBLE themselves before God?  Let’s look to Jesus, the   author and finisher of our faith (Heb. 12:2) for an answer.  Jesus purposefully made Himself of no reputation in our world and took the form of a bondservant, being in the likeness of men.  Jesus HUMBLED Himself and became obedient even to the point of death on the cross (Phil. 2:7-8).   Jesus yielded His will to that of the Father, seeking constantly that the Father’s perfect will might be done in Him at all times.  Christ’s humility and willingness to be as clay in the molder’s or potter’s hands allowed Him to live a perfect and sinless life though He was tempted in every way like us. Consider the song and prayer in the song, “My Stubborn Will at Last Has Yielded.” My stubborn will at last hath yielded; I would be Thine and Thine alone: And this the prayer my lips are bringing, “Lord, let in me Thy will be done.” Sweet will of God, still fold me closer, Till I am wholly lost in Thee; Sweet will of God, still fold me closer, Till I am wholly lost in Thee. In the political and business world, “yielding” is not thought of in very positive terms; but IN Christ this is to be our joy and our norm.  The reason this is the joy and the norm of Christ’s disciples is simply because God knows more and God knows best.  To be found within His will makes us His righteousness on planet Earth.  Christians have learned their place, and their place clearly is to be found within the purpose/will of their God and their Father.   Not all disciples have yet stripped themselves of their PRIDE.  Pride is the first sin.  It is when we think more highly of ourselves than we aught to think (Rom. 12:3).  Pride is what caused Eve and then Adam to turn away from God’s counsel to become the first Humanists, trusting in themselves — something other than God.  In order to grow in this positive, spiritual characteristic of HUMILITY, Christians need to constantly, in their prayer lives, empty themselves of their pride.   Paul acknowledged that he had to die daily (1 Cor. 15:31) and that he was crucified with Christ (Gal. 2:20).  This spirit of yielding allowed God to use Paul in many ways as a great servant. The apostle, Paul, apparently was tempted with pride.  Paul was given a thorn in the flesh by Satan.  This thorn causes Paul to boast in the power of Christ that was delivering him from that pain.  Paul says, Therefore I take pleasure in     infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake.  For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Cor. 12:10).  Paul knew when his power was weak but still moving along full force, that it was because of the strong power of Christ working in him.  With his thorn Paul learned contentment (Phil. 4:11).  We also learn contentment IF we will humble ourselves in the sight of the Lord. Most of us say we want to go to heaven.  One of the essential ingredients for admission into heaven is humility.   Regarding the subject of heaven, success is found in a value system that is opposite of this world.  Jesus teaches, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.  Therefore whoever HUMBLES himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven”  (Matt. 18:3- 4).  If you and I are serious about heaven, we must realize our child-like nature and trust in our provider.  Not understanding very much, we must look to our Father who is the giver of every good and perfect gift to His eternal/heavenly children.