Letter 14: Pride for the Humble

Review:
  • What happened that Wormwood lost ground?
  • Simple pleasures. Why are they dangerous to Satan?
Outline:
  • Conversion is different this time, asks "but only for the daily and hourly pittance to meet the daily and hourly temptation!"
  • Patient has become humble, draw attention to this virtue and make him prideful over it. This is a gratifying reflection.
  • This can be done recursive.
  • God wants humility in separating us from ourselves, but if Satan can keep us focused on ourselves he wins.
  • Must hide from the patient the true end of Humility, instead make it one of low opinion.
Terminology:

  • Abjection - feeling of low in spirit or hoping; cringing

Questions/Discussions:
  • First paragraph talks about just asking for enough to get by right now, instead of the grand requests of the first conversion.
  • Where does "love your neighbor as yourself come from - "love your neighbor" from Leviticus 19:18, quoted in Matthew 22:39, Mark 12:31-33, Luke 10:27, Romans 13:9, Galatians 5:14, James 2:8
  • What is Humility? How do we stay humble?
    • Matthew 6:16-18 fasting with funny face brings focus on you
    • Micah 6:8 walk with God
    • Matthew 11:29 take my yoke, Christ is humble
  • Why should we be humble?
    • John 3:25-31 Christ is glorified
    • 1 Corinthians 4:6-7 Gratitude for our gifts
    • Philippians 2:1-8 the body becomes complete
  • In a Small Group
    • Find an example of Christ being humble.
    • Discuss how you are or are not humble.
Scripture:
  • Philippians 2:1-8 - Christ himself was humble unto death, for the body to be complete, we need to be humble and count others better than ourselves. Christ did not exploit the fact that he was God.
  • 1 Corinthians 4:6-7 - be humble, everything is a gift
  • Matthew 6:16-18 - do not play up fasting so people notice you. It is enough that God knows.
  • Matthew 11:29 - take the yoke, Christ is lowly in heart.
  • Leviticus 19:17-18 - Love your neighbor as yourself
  • John 3:25-31 - John Baptist says Christ must grow in greatness, while my greatness decreases. This is necessary ("he must ...I must") and just.
  • Micah 6:8 - walk humbly with God

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