Humility, Faith, and Grace: Qualities of Victorious Living, Part 1

Humility, Faith, and Grace: Qualities of Victorious Living, Part 1

2 Corinthians 12:9: "And He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me."

One’s weakness, limitation, or inability may be a reason, and usually the excuse, for one’s failure in particular circumstances. But the truth is neither weakness, limitation, nor inability has to be an unavoidable reason, or an undeniable excuse for failure. For instance, not being able to swim or fly does not make it impossible for one to get across a lake if one makes use of the assistance of a canoe, ferry, or aircraft.

Too many people allow themselves to be spiritually paralyzed by the reality of their human weaknesses and infirmities. Crippled by a mindset of inevitable moral failure shaped by a deceitful theology or philosophy that hopelessly teaches that no one can live a holy and righteous life in this world, they are blinded to the divine provision of the sufficiency of the grace of God to take us triumphantly through this evil world.  

The truth is, because of the atoning work of Christ on the Cross which has unleashed to mankind the unlimited resources of the grace of God to help in time of need, any sinner can arise and walk in the excellence of God’s righteousness right here in the midst of this crooked and perverse world. We will examine three basic qualities that can lift us up into triumphant Christian living, in spite of our weaknesses, limitations, and inabilities. These qualities are humility, faith, and grace.

Humility
Humility is the genuine acknowledgment of one's weakness, limitation, and inability to please God in any way. But while humility is the recognition of one's weak and helpless condition that makes it impossible for one to please God, humility is also the means by which one's weakness and helplessness do not have to lead to failure to please God. Genuine humility should lead to the acknowledgment of one's need for help - help to be able to please God. Hence, humility leads one to seek for help.

Humility, therefore, leads one to God who is the only true source of help. David articulately expresses this humble attitude towards God in Psalms 61:1-2: “Hear my cry, O God; attend to my prayer. From the end of the earth I cry to You when my heart is faint; Lead me to the Rock higher than I.”