by Dr. Jack Graham

"God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." 1 Peter 5:5

Did you hear about the little boy who was given a sticker for his humility? Well, they took it away from him because he wore it all the time!

Now, real humility is knowing who you are in Christ and accepting your position in Christ. It’s not thinking of yourself with sinful exaggeration, but with sober evaluation, knowing God and knowing who you are in Him. It’s putting Christ first, others second, and yourself last.

And pride is the very antithesis of the Christian life. Pride is the original sin. In fact, before time began Lucifer said, "I will be like the Most High!" And there was a rebellion when Lucifer chose to live independently of God. That’s how Lucifer became the devil. It was pride!

Also, the first sin that mankind committed was the sin of pride. Satan tempted them and said, "If you eat of this tree, you shall be as gods" (Genesis 3:5). The first temptation was not to be ungodly; it was to be as gods!

The Christian life is one of humility. Had there been no pride, there would have been no sin. So as you live the Christian life, put God first, others second, and yourself last. When you do that, you’ll understand the true essence of the Christian life: humility!

THE ESSENCE OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE IS A HUMBLE HEART. SO LIVE YOUR LIFE IN HUMILITY BY PUTTING GOD AND OTHERS BEFORE YOURSELF.