Leviticus 26:40-42 “‘But if they will confess their sins and the sins of their fathers—their treachery against me and their hostility towards me, 41 which made me hostile towards them so that I sent them into the land of their enemies—then when their uncircumcised hearts are humbled and they pay for their sin, I will remember my covenant with Jacob and my covenant with Isaac and my covenant with Abraham, and I will remember the land.'”

This passage clearly connects humility with confession, and rightly so. We don’t like to confess mistakes, much less deliberate sins, because it messes with our pride. However, it doesn’t take much reflection to realize what a mess that gets us into. That’s the thing about repentance, which the whole Bible is very clear is necessary for salvation: you’ve got to admit you were wrong, or there’s no repentance. God is incredibly gracious and forgiving, but the one thing that blocks that from being effective for us personally is stubborn pride. For anyone genuinely conversant with the Bible, that truth is completely obvious. However, it is an indication of our sinful nature that we still don’t like to confess our sins! 1 John 1:9 is as clear as you could get on the subject (If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.) but we resist it anyway.

I’ve certainly experienced this issue from all sides! There have been times in my life when I felt like if I did it, it was right, regardless. How foolish! It’s been quite a while since I was that far gone, but I still don’t like to admit I’m in the wrong, particularly in interpersonal relationships. That has done so much needless damage! There is a big difference between objectively recognizing abilities and blind pride. We all sometimes misuse the abilities we’ve been given, and humility is the only true corrective. I am to recognize the abilities God has placed in me without thinking for a moment that those abilities make me immune from error. I am to be quick to apologize on a personal level as well as repent before God, whenever the Holy Spirit indicates I am in the wrong – and that’s not infrequent! I am to recognize that I am a dumb sheep (Isaiah 53:6) and do my utmost to follow my Shepherd.

Father, thank You for directing me to the theme of humility for this round of daily Bible readings. It’s been several years since I have used this theme. I pray that everyone in the church would grasp this truth, along with the magnificence of what You have made them to be in Christ, so that together we may rise up as a powerful, liberating army to bring many into Your kingdom. Thank You. Hallelujah!