Today there is much talk in the Church of our Lord which sounds very humble. You hear leaders of the neo-liberal cult of the Emergent Church saying, “God is too big for us to know and we are so small.” Or, “We shouldn’t definitively say we know Jesus and what He said because language is constantly evolving within cultures.” However, as you will see in this devotional by Oswald Chambers below called “By the Grace of God I Am What I Am” he rightly points out that this does sound quite humble before men.

But you see, in reality statements of false piety like this are actually an insult before God because when He stood upon His planet earth the LORD God most clearly told us – “If you continue in My Word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” (John 8:31-32, NASB)

“His grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain.” 1 Corinthians 15:10

The way we continually talk about our own inability is an insult to the Creator. The deploring of our own incompetence is a slander against God for having overlooked us. Get into the habit of examining in the sight of God the things that sound humble before men, and you will be amazed at how staggeringly impertinent they are.

“Oh, I shouldn’t like to say I am sanctified; I’m not a saint.” Say that before God; and it means – “No, Lord, it is impossible for You to save and sanctify me; there are chances I have not had; so many imperfections in my brain and body; no, Lord, it isn’t possible.” That may sound wonderfully humble before men, but before God it is an attitude of defiance.

Again, the things that sound humble before God may sound the opposite before men. To say Thank God, I know I am saved and sanctified is in the sight of God the acme of humility, it means you have so completely abandoned yourself to God that you know He is true. Never bother your head as to whether what you say sounds humble before men or not, but always be humble before God, and let Him be all in all.

There is only one relationship that matters, and that is your personal relationship to a personal Redeemer and Lord. Let everything else go, but maintain that at all costs, and God will fulfil His purpose through your life. One individual life may be of priceless value to God’s purposes, and yours may be that life. (My Utmost for His Highest, 248,249)