DAILY VIDEO DEVOTIONAL
Occasionally I hear someone say, “He’s one of those holier than thou guys.” When people make such a statement, they don’t realize the absolute contradiction. A holy heart will always be a humble heart. Holiness doesn’t compare itself to others. Holiness looks only to Jesus. Therefore it’s impossible to “be holier than thou.” Holiness of life grows in the soil of a humble heart.
There are several reasons why humility is the secret to a holy life. First, humility is the essence of the life of Christ. Jesus existed in eternity as God. Yet He humbled Himself by becoming a man. He clothed Himself with human flesh. He stooped so low to become like us — in order that we could know Him. There’s never been in all history such an example of humility. God became a man. That’s who Jesus is: the God man. Even the name given to Him, Emmanuel, means God with us.
If the goal of holiness is to become like Christ, then we must clothe ourselves with humility. Therefore, we must seek to be humble in heart and life. Christ lived an absolutely holy life, the perfect picture of humility. So if we are to become holy, we too must humble ourselves under God’s mighty hand.
But there’s another reason humility is necessary to holiness. It’s impossible for us, in our own power, to achieve holiness of life. Holiness can be made a reality only by the grace of God. We become what God wants us to become by His grace. And grace is applied only to the humble heart. The Bible says, “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6 nasb).
A pastor friend once spent forty days praying and fasting. Afterward, I asked him what God had shown during that intense time of seeking God. His response was quite interesting: “God showed me that I could never again say, ‘I’d never do that.’ When I would see someone commit adultery, I used to say, ‘I’d never do that.’ But God showed me that in my flesh dwells no good thing. I can only say, ‘By God’s grace, I will never do that.’”
What God showed my friend was quite simple, but deeply profound. The only reason any Christian can claim victory over sins in their lives is by the grace of God. We are what we are by the God’s grace. We become more like Christ because of the grace of God. It’s not our willpower or our ability to overcome evil. It’s by God’s grace that we know and experience victory of life and holiness of conduct.
When the seed of humility is planted in our hearts, it will be watered by the grace of God. The Holy Spirit will make sure it grows. When humility comes to full maturity, it blossoms into a beautiful bouquet of holiness. Our life and conduct will reflect the beauty of Christ’s character. Humility is the secret to the holiness.
Isaiah : Chapter 35
5) Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped. 6) Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy. Water will gush forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert. 7) The burning sand will become a pool, the thirsty ground bubbling springs. In the haunts where jackals once lay, grass and reeds and papyrus will grow. 8) And a highway will be there; it will be called the Way of Holiness; it will be for those who walk on that Way. The unclean will not journey on it; wicked fools will not go about on it. 9) No lion will be there, nor any ravenous beast; they will not be found there. But only the redeemed will walk there, 10) and those the Lord has rescued will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.
Book of the Month
Sammy Tippit told his fiancée, “I can’t promise we’ll be rich, but life won’t be boring.”
Sammy had no idea what an understatement that would become. Beginning in the bars of Baton Rouge and the nightclubs of Chicago, Tippit has shared the news of life-changing faith in Christ all over the world – including in the middle of a revolution in Romania, the aftermath of genocide in Rwanda, and war in Burundi and the Congo.
Sammy’s lifelong adventure has come at a great price. He’s been cursed, threatened, arrested, deported, and blacklisted. He’s also been personally broken, ravaged with illness, and devastated by grief.
Yet he continues to preach to in stadiums, in open fields, and via satellite technology to hundreds of thousands around the globe. For all other books…
About Sammy Tippit Ministries
STM has been providing inspiration and help around the world for nearly 50 years. Sammy Tippit, founder and president, is a world renowned counselor, teacher and evangelist with experience serving and helping people in over 80 countries. Sammy provides materials that help people tackle a broad array of social, societal, psychological and spiritual issues. He is particularly passionate about making materials accessible to other countries around the world. Sammy is married to Debara “Tex” Tippit, and they have two children and five grandchildren.
Sammy Tippit Ministries is a registered 501c3 non-profit organization.
Contact: info@sammytippit.org
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