I’m sharing a quote from Brian today. it’s not a recent quote, but it is wise. After reading it I want us to think on: exactly what is the defining fact of our humility as believers?

“Humility frees the heart from its own poison. It is the Balm of Gilead alone which can bind up the wounds of relationships from the rivalry, envy and jealously which are the offspring of pride and the source of so much division in His Body. This is the River of Life of which the inspired Psalmist declares:”

“There is a river,
the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God…”
Psalm 46:4

Brian Troxel

If we are to be humble before God and before the men of faith, who are believers in Christ; then just how are we to do that? Jesus’ love through us for these who are our brothers is intended to be binding. It would seem obvious that we are to seek God’s very best not only for ourselves but for these brothers and sisters. This is not only God’s desire for us, but it is our duty to one another as believers. Our love for one another should restrict us at times and should compel us at other times, as we are led by His Holy Spirit. Being humble before God requires our obedience to Him in ministry to these others. What does that really mean as it plays out among us?

1 John 3:7 Little children, make sure no one deceives you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous; vs.8 the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil. (NASB2020)

This being true; then it means warning our brethren when we discern that they have strayed from the truth:

James 5:19 My brothers [and sisters,] if anyone among you strays from the truth and someone turns him back, James vs.20 let him know that the one who has turned a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and cover a multitude of sins. (NASB2020)

The world has its own version of love, which is to allow man to be completely free to devine his own truth without restraint. Or stated another way to determine his own religion, often believing himself to be God’s child or even worse, to be his own god, and thereby giving himself permission to believe what he wants; to live with his own lusts, because he believes that God created him this way; whatever way. Denying that he himself is a sinner, he will give in to his own lustful desires. From this state we all have come.

And so, this is Gods reason for the gospel message. It is for the sinner who is lost due to his/her sin, who is living not in Christ, but in the world. This one, who when he/she hears the Gospel and recognizes the need for God’s deliverance from this life of sin that has bound them in what is an unwanted lifestyle; then one can be transported into a new life as truly being God’s child. This comes by confessing that they are bound by their sin and by accepting the gift that Jesus freely gives through His loving sacrifice in full payment. When this transaction is made between this one and Jesus the Son of God; then the Holy Spirit is given as our counselor.

John 14:16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; (KJV).

What we were before this transaction is made clear to us and to anyone willing to hear it. Unfortunately, brothers in Christ often agree with the world or even lead those of the world to believe that they are already God’s Children. But Scripture makes very clear, our condition before we met Christ and made Him our Lord.

Ephesians 2:1 And you were dead in your offenses and sins, vs.2 in which you previously walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. Vs.3 Among them we too all previously lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the rest. Vs.4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, vs.5 even when we were dead in our wrongdoings, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), (NASB2020)

The condition of anyone, who has not made this New Covenant transaction with Christ, is without question in these verses. By the fact of one’s own sin nature they are a child (not of God), but of His wrath.

I must love the world and “you” who claim Christ, enough my brother in Christ, to tell you where you are straying from God; from His truth and from His righteousness. when you lead those, who are in the world, to believe that they are children of God, when this is so obviously not true. So then, are you truly loving them as you might believe, or are you condemning them as you provide for them a false hope? If I fail to tell you this; then am I truly loving you, as Christ loved you? Does the man who first seeks and then reaps the love of the world; then also reap God’s favor accompanied by rivers of living water? Is humility “not” telling the truth to others for their own good, even when it might bring your way something other than their love as is seen with Peter here?

Acts 2:40 And with many other words he solemnly testified and kept on urging them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation!” (NASB2020)