I am so thankful for Romans 8:1.

“There is therefore no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

You know, there are some stories that sometimes are just so embarrassing you don’t even want to share them. But if you do, you learn you not only minister to others, but you allow yourself to experience truth.

It was the mid eighties. Our church asked me to write a Bible memory program for their elementary grades that built from the first to the sixth grade. Our sons were in elementary school at the time. After initially hesitating,  I agreed and Well-Versed Kids was born. My good friends Barb, Kathy, and Millie all jumped in to help. Once again, thank you ladies. (For more information on Well-Versed Kids, click on the link above.)

Well-Versed Kids was a success. Not only was our church using the program, but it was published by Navpress in 1988, was adopted by Christian schools, and many home-schoolers as well.

So when I was invited to speak at a large Sunday school convention on Bible memory for children, I accepted. After all, I had a book published with my name on the cover on that very topic. Can you hear the pride? Ugh, like I said, some stories I don’t even like to remember.

My biggest memory of that day is not how God used me to encourage scripture memory in children, but my arrogance. Oh how I hate writing that. In my mind, it oozed out as I responded to questions.

Years later as I reflect on that day, God encourages me with these truths.

1. Romans 8:1. God is not condemning me for my attitude that day. He has his arms wrapped around me and is whispering, Sue, I’m glad you see it. Let’s move forward from here.
2. Matthew 18:4, NLT, “So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.” According to my ESV commentary on this passage, “The humility of a child consists of childlike trust, vulnerability, and the inability to advance his or her own cause apart from the help … of a parent.” Those were absent qualities that day. I’m learning from the negative.

I’ve begun a list of the qualities of humility. This is what I’m thinking about. I’d love your thoughts. What might you add?

*Humility leads me to ask questions.
*Humility accepts that I don’t know all the answers.
*Humility is more concerned about learning answers than knowing answers.
*Humility is stewardship.
*Humility is more than transparency; it is vulnerability.
*Humility teaches me to wait.
*Humility is tied to trust.
*Humility is trusting God and others with me.
*Humility sees others as a reflection of God’s glory.
*Humility creates space for God.
*Humility predisposes me to believe I always have something to learn.
*Humility leads me to believe that I might be wrong.
*Humility redeems my desires.
*Humility is owning my influence.
*Humility is not needing to be more than you are. Thank you Kirstin.
*Humility is living consistently with my new identity.
*Humility illuminates my theology.
*Humility creates an affirmation lifestyle.
*Humility is living with nothing hidden.

I want to keep learning. What are you learning about humility?

“He leads the humble in what is right,
and teaches the humble his way.”
Psalm 25:9