Dear Papa,

Does humility lead to obedience, or does obedience lead to humility?

Dear Child,

Humility leads to obedience, for only when you humble yourself before Me will you have the grace to be obedient. Even My Son learned obedience through suffering. And suffering will reap humility. Learn of Him, the expression of humility.

                                                            Thus saith Papa

Heb.5:8  Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;

Heb.12:2  Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

1 Peter 5:5-6 For God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that He might exalt you in due time. 

Suffering leads me to dependence on Papa, for then I realize my weakness. When I am weak, then I am humbled to rely on His strength, which is sufficient.

Suffering will teach me humility

Humility will teach me obedience

Obedience will teach me maturity

“God never intended that tribulation should have no fruit. His purpose is that all pressure lead to growth and all poverty lead to wealth. His destiny for His people is not continuous distress and poverty. Distress and poverty are not an end; they are the means to the end. The New Jerusalem is a city of infinite wealth. However there is not a nugget of gold in that city which has not been tried in the furnace of affliction, not a precious stone which has not passed through the fires, and not a pearl that has not been born of suffering.” Watchman Nee

Rom.8:17-18  And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

Note: Surely our spiritual wealth comes from trials!

CHALLENGE: May we all realize that the pure gold of our faith is extracted from the valleys of our lives and not from our mountain top experiences.