Skip to main content

Review: The Blessing of Humility by Jerry Bridges



Review: The Blessing of Humility
Jerry Bridges
Navpress
2016

Humility.  According to this book we know it when we see it, but how do we recognize it?  That’s pretty much what this book covers.  What it looks like and how does it happen?  Bridges uses the verses known as the Beatitudes from Matthew 5 as his starting point.  Well that’s not entirely accurate---his starting point is the gospel and he returns to it regularly throughout this work.  

The Blessing of Humility: Walk within Your CallingThis approach helps the reader understand his own person in relation to God.  Understanding who he is leads to humility, but not without some serious changes.  Bridges guides the reader along this path of discovery gently, but firmly.  Simple explanations and applications make this journey sound easy.  It isn’t and he admits that.  

Here's a sample of his simple yet insightful work.  “I still vividly remember a statement I heard at a Bible study in 1952.  It literally changed my life… ‘the Bible is meant to be applied in your everyday life.’ … as far as I can remember, the application of Scripture to one’s daily life had never been taught in our church.” (1)   Quite a while ago, but still valid today perhaps.

Yes, I read beyond that page, but that epiphany stuck in my mind, like one of those little tunes you can’t lose.  What follows his opening page looks to application and knowledge as he looks at some of the Beatitudes.  His reminder might help many of us look at our life application of Scripture, as well.  And application produces the blessing of humility in the final analysis.  

I do recommend this book.  It is short and won’t take much time to read, but the application part may take a bit longer.  His teachings and dedication to the Gospel will be missed at The Navigators and far beyond.

I received this book from the publisher in exchange for a review.











Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Review: When God’s Ways Make No Sense by Dr. Larry Crabb

Review: When God’s Ways Make No Sense Dr. Larry Crabb Baker Books 2018 I chose this book because the title intrigued me.   When God’s Ways Make No Sense.    There have been plenty of times when that seemed truer than I’d like to admit.   Are we even allowed to say something like that?   Even if we think it.   So, an author willing to take on that topic had my attention. And mostly because I wanted his take on what to do about it? As it turns out Crabb pretty much gave away his case very early on in his book with a single scripture quote.   The basic idea is God is GOD and we are not.   His motives and actions are incomprehensible to mankind and He owes no explanation for them either.   Crabb admits near the end of his book that he is not a theologian which I knew going into this book, but his arguments are theology.   Or at least I think so.   I found his repeated circling the topic a bit frustrating. That said, the book does provoke thoughts from th

Review: Anatomy of the Soul

Anatomy of the Soul Curt Thompson. M.D. Salt River, an imprint of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. 2010 This is the most helpful,insightful book I’ve read in a long time. There’s advice, guidance, explanations and examples to illustrate discussion offered by the author. Best of all, for me anyway, it explains some of what I had suspected about how things work all along. Dr. Thompson links human anatomy and physiology to the spiritual part of our being throughout the text. We are fearfully and wonderfully made. And God uses His creation of the physical body in amazing ways. The author does a great job showing God’s wisdom found in research and the discoveries that science has made recently in neuroscience. Whether science wants to or not, it is describing the wonders of creation. Read this book. The text will require thought, evaluation, and time to go through. The author’s writing style is quite readable and he covers the material well. While this isn’t a how to or self help boo

Review: The Little French Bistro by Nina George

Review: The Little French Bistro Nina George Crown 2017 I have to admit that I'm not a fan of romance novels, but I think this one goes beyond the boy meets girl idea.   By a bunch.   If adults had coming of age stories this one would fit there.   Marianne travels a road many people I know would love to, but fear taking the steps needed. And that is the basis of this book.   Taking the steps.   Joy, sorrow, whatever comes and keep on taking the steps.    I agree with many of the comments already made about George's ability to build wonderful characters, paint scenes that vibrate with energy, and tell a story too.   Her writing touches the heart and not in some sappy, maudlin way.   A place of real emotions and desire.   Speaking of desire---her intimate scenes are just that, intimate.   In body and mind.   And not for just spicing things up a bit.   She captures the true nature of intimacy.    Lucky breaks all along the way are my nit wit