Sunday, December 4, 2016

Seek the Grace of Humility

There is no grace which should distinguish the Christian so much as humility. He that would be great in the eyes of Christ, must aim at a totally different mark from that of the Pharisees.
His aim must be, not so much to rule, as to serve the Church. The desire of the Pharisee was to receive honor, and to be called “master.” The desire of the Christian must be to do good, and to give himself, and all that he has to the service of others. Truly this is a high standard, but a lower one must never content us. The example of our blessed Lord, the direct command of the apostolic Epistles, require us to be “clothed with humility” (1 Peter 5:5). Let us seek that blessed grace day by day. No grace is so beautiful, yet so despised by the world. No grace is such an evidence of saving faith, and true conversion to God. No grace is so often commended by our Lord. Of all His sayings, hardly any is so often repeated as that which concludes the passage we have now read, “Whoever humbles himself will be exalted” (Matthew 23:12).
~ J.C. Ryle
Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Matthew, [Carlisle, PA: Banner of Truth, 1986], 300. {Matthew 23:1-12}

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