After spending five weeks studying humility, you understand perhaps a little better what it is. Now the key is being willing—willing to follow God; willing to run the race to the end; willing to listen and learn; willing to take responsibility for your sin; and willing to be nothing in order for God’s will to be done. As Jesus said, a person must be willing to “deny himself and take up his cross and follow me (Jesus).” (Mark 8:34)
As we age, we can become tired and discouraged. Perhaps we have worked hard for many years with little to no result. When I am tempted to feel this way, I think of a missionary couple in Belgium, Samuel and Denise Liberek. They have spent decades in a country that is not very open to hearing about Jesus. If one or two people are added to the church each year, they count it a great blessing. They are now in their 80’s and Mr. Liberek is nearing the end of his earthly life (he has since gone to be with the Lord), and yet they continue ministering in every way available. If success as a missionary were assessed by the quantity of conversions, the Libereks might be pretty far back in the line. They have often experienced discouragement, but have faithfully continued nonetheless.
Chuck Colson shared Christ in prisons for much of his adult life, and Mother Teresa showed God’s love to the poorest of the poor in India. Missionaries often find themselves living far from their families.
What are you unwilling to do for God?
Becoming completely aware of one’s pride is the work of a lifetime and will probably not be accomplished by any of us. Humility also takes hard work. Part of the purpose of the Old Testament was to make human beings more aware of what sin was and where it existed in their lives. Once our eyes are opened to sin, we recognize it more readily and are able to confess it and move on. Abundant life, joy, and peace in our heart are there for each of us. All that is required is that we humble ourselves before God and abandon our pride.