DOUBLE H

“I don’t mean to say I’m perfect. I haven’t learned all I should even yet, but I keep working toward that day when I will finally be all that Christ saved me for and wants me to be. No, dear brothers, I’m still not all I should be” (Philippians 3:12-13 TLB).

As Paul writes this, he is an old man sitting in prison in Rome. He is at the end of his life. What we can see from all of Paul’s writing is that he is an incredibly mature person. However, at this late stage in life, he asserts he still has not arrived. Maybe there is still hope for me then!

Look, if anyone had the right to say “I have arrived spiritually,” it would be this guy who wrote much of the New Testament. But here we have Paul saying “No, I haven’t arrived. I AM STILL GROWING. I AM STILL LEARNING. I AM STILL BECOMING MORE LIKE CHRIST,”

What is keeping us from this example Paul sets? Why do we not to continue to grow in Christ?...... PRIDE

Pride is anti-growth. It does so as it convinces us we have it all together and do not need to grow anymore. This thinking we have it all together is PRETEND by the way. Since we are convinced we have it all together there is no effort on our part to grow more.

Spoiler alert!!!!! NO ONE HAS IT ALL TOGETHER. HUMILITY leads to HAPPINESS.

Formula Alert. Double H’s Equation:

Humility = Teachable= Learn More = Growth = Happiness.

Happy people never stop growing.

Happy people never stop discovering.

Happy people never stop stretching.

Happy people never stop learning.

You stop growing, you become miserable. WE ARE MADE TO GROW!

The double H’s , Happiness, Humility go together. Humble people are teachable and are always asking “HOW CAN I BE A BETTER SPOUSE, FRIEND, BOSS, FATHER, MOTHER, SISTER, BROTHER, …..??” “HOW CAN I BE A BETTER FOLLOWER OF JESUS?” “HOW CAN I BE A BETTER BOB?”

Test yourselves to make sure you are solid in the faith. Don’t drift along taking everything for granted. Give yourselves regular checkups. You need firsthand evidence, not mere hearsay, that Jesus Christ is in you. Test it out. If you fail the test, do something about it” (2 Corinthians 13:5 The Message).

“It was pride that changed angels into devils; it is humility that makes men as angels.” Augustine of Hippo