THE HUMILITY OF A CHILD (PART 14)

In this Quiet-time series, we shall study the various characteristics of humility exhibited by children. The Word of God encourages us to be “little ones” to inherit the kingdom of God; denoting humility and sincere obedience in our pursuit of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and our relationship with our brethren.

 Scripture: Genesis 3: 10-11 

“And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself. And He said, who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?”

Genesis 3: 10-11 

 14. When you are humble as a child, you are soft and bendable. When you lose this humility, you become hard, unyielding, and stubborn.

“And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself. And He said, who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?”

Genesis 3: 10-11  

The very first effect of sin was to cover up and become private, secretive, and closed up. Before the evil pride entered into man he was open and transparent. The sinless man walked about freely in his nakedness, never seeing anything wrong with his openness. Hiding, covering secrets, and refusing to open up is a sign of great pride. It is when we are adults, and when we have grown out of our childlike humility that we feel too big to show ourselves.

 When you are a child, you can be naked and show how and what you are. But when you are not a child, you reveal less and less of yourself.

 Being yourself and revealing who you are is a sign of childlike humility. You will sense the presence of an evil pride when you sit before a secretive individual who refuses to open up. You can sense that something evil has descended on the person because he or she is unwilling to be open to you any longer.

 Do not forget the wonderful blessings of being open. Confessing faults one to another lead to restoration and healing (James 5:16). Clamping up and keeping your sins covered will not allow you to prosper and receive mercy “he that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy (Proverbs 28:13). Perhaps the greatest blessing of being open is to have fellowship with others who are equally open. If you walk in the light, as a friend is in the light you have real fellowship with each other.

 Clamping up, and becoming “private and secretive” is pride that will keep you away from the most important relationships of your life. Pride indeed comes before a fall!!

 

Credits: Excerpts from

Formula for Humility 

Bishop Dag Heward-Mills