Adventures in Wonderland, #4

In the fear of the Lord there is strong confidence, and His children will have refuge.  The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, that one may avoid the snares of death.

Proverbs 14:26, 27

In order for Alice to get through the door to experience Wonderland, she had to drink of the liquid that would bring the right “adjustment.”  If I want through the door to so experience the adventures of God’s Wonderland, I’ll drink, too – a smoothie blend comprised of equal amounts of humility, submission, and obedience. 

I’m not real adventurous when it comes to drinks, gotta admit.  I’m afraid I might be handed something similar to what we used to call a “Masai Milkshake.”  When we lived in Kenya, we often traveled through Masai-land.  The Masai are a proud, regal people group and still quite primitive in culture.  One of their favorite “drinks,” which they are honored to share with guests, is comprised of curdled milk mixed with cow’s blood, and served in a gourd purified with cow urine.  Mmmmm…yum! Nah, I want to know what’s mixed in my drink before I consume.

First ingredient: humility.

Sometimes, I confuse this word with another similar-looking word:  humiliate.  Correction: they are not the same.  One comes from people.  The other comes from the Lord.  One comes from those who want to belittle.  The other comes from One who wants to “lift up.”  One comes from the world’s perspective.  The other comes from the plan of an Almighty God who is named Elohim (creator).  One is a lie.  The other is truth. 

Humility.  Seeing God as He is.  Seeing myself as He made me.  Living in the connection of the two. 

Humility.  The opposite of pride and arrogance.  The opposite of self-sufficient.  The opposite of independence.  The opposite of scoffing and mocking.

Humility.  Just like Jesus. Jesus, who did nothing from selfishness or empty conceit.  Jesus, who regarded everyone else as more important than himself.  Jesus, who did not merely look out for his own interests, but also for the interest of others.  Jesus who even though he was God, gave up the right to be God, so that he could serve…even to the point of death (Philippians 2:3-9).  Jesus, gentle, but strong enough to calm the wind and waves.  Jesus, loving, but filled with enough righteousness to hate what sin was doing in man. Jesus, the way, the truth, and the life who chose shameful death…for me.

I. Want. Humility.  Just. Like. Jesus.  But, while I desire to drink humility, it can be so hard to swallow…