WE ARE ALL BORN PROUD

J. C. Ryle

Humility is one of the strongest evidences of the dwelling of the Spirit of God within us! We know nothing of humility by nature--because we are all born proud.

To convince us of sin,
to show us our own vileness and corruption,
to put us in our right place,
to make us humble and self-abased
--these are among the principal works which the Holy Spirit works in the soul of man.

Few of our Lord's sayings are as often repeated as the one which closes the parable of the Pharisee and Tax-collector, "Everyone who exalts himself shall be humbled--and he who humbles himself will be exalted." (Luke 18:14) To have great gifts, and do great works for God, is not given to all believers. But all believers ought to strive to be clothed with humility.

"All of you--clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble." 1 Peter 5:5