Friday – The Fruits of Humility: Favor and Oneness

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In a Nutshell: 

Humility is not just a virtue in itself; it unlocks tangible blessings, including God’s favor and deeper unity with Him and others. Pride, conversely, leads to opposition and division.

Anchor Verse: 

Proverbs 22:4 (NIV) – “Humility is the fear of the Lord; its wages are riches and honor and life.”

Unpacking the Word: 

Pastor Reuben clearly stated the benefits of humility, drawing from Proverbs 22:4: “The reward for humility and fear of God is riches or provision and honor and life abundant life.”  He emphasized that humility is not just about avoiding negative consequences, but about actively attracting God’s blessings.  Humility opens the door to God’s favor, which brings provision, honor, and abundant life.

Think about the opposite – pride.  James 4:6 tells us, “God opposes the proud.”  Pride creates a barrier between us and God, blocking the flow of His grace and favor. It leads to resistance, opposition, and ultimately, separation from God’s best.  Humility, on the other hand, aligns us with God’s heart and opens us up to receive His goodness.  Moreover, Pastor Reuben highlighted John 17:22, showing that Jesus’s unity with the Father was rooted in his humility and recognition of the Father as his source.  Humility is not just about our individual relationship with God; it also fosters unity among believers. Pride breeds division, competition, and strife, while humility promotes oneness, cooperation, and love.

Consider the relationships in your life.  Are there areas of division, conflict, or competition?  Could pride be playing a role?  Conversely, in your most harmonious and loving relationships, is humility present?  Today, let’s reflect on the tangible fruits of humility.  It’s not just a spiritual ideal; it’s a practical pathway to a more blessed and fulfilling life – a life marked by God’s favor, provision, honor, abundance, and deep, meaningful unity with Him and others.  Choosing humility is choosing blessing.

Pause and Reflect:

1. In what areas of your life are you longing for God’s favor or breakthrough?
2. Could pride be hindering you from experiencing these blessings? If so, how?
3. How could cultivating humility improve your relationships and foster greater unity in your community or church?

Faith in Action:

1. Pray specifically for God’s favor in an area where you are currently facing challenges. Ask Him to reveal any pride that might be blocking His blessing and give you grace to walk in humility.
2. Identify a relationship in your life that is strained or marked by conflict. Take the first step towards reconciliation by humbly seeking forgiveness or extending forgiveness.
3. Look for opportunities today to serve others anonymously, without seeking recognition or praise, as an act of humility.

A Moment With God: 

Father, I thank you for the promise of your favor and abundant life that comes through humility.  Help me to cultivate a truly humble heart, so that I may walk in your blessings and experience deeper unity with you and others.  Remove any pride that hinders your favor and fill me with your grace to live a life of humility.

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