Vol 3:7 (July, 1957)
Editorial
Humility is that spiritual culture that modestly shows its low esteem of self importance. It is so sensitive a plant that its bloom is rarely seen, for, like a certain species of lily, it flourishes best in obscurity. In fact, there are times when in the shadows, it is more discernible by its delicate fragrance than by any display of its loveliness. Only once in all the annals of their history did men see it in all the perfect fulness of maturity. So exotic was its sweet aroma, so heavenly was its surpassing charm, and so exquisite was its attractive comeliness that men could not endure the radiant splendour of its graces; consequently, they crucified it. In their haste to destroy it, they revealed to all the world, for all time, in sacrifice and death, humility personified in the only Perfect Man.
“With true humility, let every one regard the rest as being better men than himself; each fixing his attention, not simply on his own good qualities, but on those of others also. Let the same disposition be in you which was in Christ Jesus. Although from the beginning He had the nature of God He did not reckon His equality with God a treasure to be tightly grasped. Nay, He stripped Himself of His glory, and took on Him the nature of a bondservant by becoming a man like other men, And being recognized as truly human. He humbled Himself and even stooped to die; yes, to die on a cross” (Phil. 2:3-8, Weymouth).
Ugly pride asserts, “for me to live is self,” to please self, to display self, to advance self; humility quietly says, “For me to live is Christ.” It is the warm desire of the truly humble to live as Christ, for Christ, with Christ, through Christ, as well as in Christ.
Fred Squire, who as an industrial chemist was accustomed to probing into the components of many substances, now uncovers to us the moral qualities which are necessary to really live Christ. Some of his words are weighty and should be pondered by the spiritually minded.
May each member of the Church of our Lord Jesus learn that admist the storms of life and the weariness of our pilgrimage only humility enables faith to rest, as Thomas Wilkie tells us, upon the words of the Master. The hidden humility of the heart is detected by an implicit obedience and by an outward calmness in trouble.
John Bramhall has given the Lambs of the Flock a timely and practical exposition of Paul’s first letter to his son in the faith, Timothy. In this first article of the series the aged Apostle graciously instructs, informs, advises, and encourages this young and timid man. Our prayers follow this needed word on “The House of God”; may it prove a blessing to many.
With this issue our brother Tharp concludes his articles on Demonology. Many comments have been received regarding this subject. From these comments, it is obvious that God’s beloved people have only a very meagre apprehension of Satan’s influence and power.