"Leave him alone and let him curse me; the Lord has told him to. Perhaps the Lord will see my affliction and restore goodness to me instead of Shimei's curses today."
2 Samuel 16:11b-12
As king David and his men flee from Jerusalem, they passed by the land of Shimei, of the line of Saul. Shimei threw rocks and dirt at all of them, and continuously shouted curses at David. When one of David's men volunteered to shut the man up, this was David's response: "He curses me this way because the Lord told him, 'Curse David!'" (v10b)
In all the years I've spent studying the Word and trying to devote myself to the Lord, I've always struggled with the debate: where is the line between humility and humiliation? At what point is that line crossed?
What should have been made clear by Jesus's flaying and crucifixion has now been made clear to me - there is no line between them. Humility and humiliation are the same thing. One cannot be humble without being humiliated. One cannot have humility without having humiliation. They are one and the same. The only difference is that what we would call "a humble man" accepts his humiliation as a learning tool, approaching it with a repentant heart.
Question of the Day:
What is it about your life that humiliates you? Are you humble enough to beg forgiveness and repent?
Prayer of the Day:
Thank You, Lord, for giving me the humility to accept the humiliation which I've brought upon myself through lack of righteousness. Continue to guide me in the process of learning, growing, and creating a more righteous version of me. Continue to bear Your fruit in this good work which You have started in my soul. Amen!
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