12/16/2018
Are you a humble person, just playing with the notion, or do you actually make no pretense at it whatsoever? Humbling ourselves is a foundational element of the Christian faith, and yet it is also a human trait that many people see as being a weakness, and unbecoming. Friends... humility and weakness are not synonymous... being humble before God allowed Jesus to take His place on the cross, but that wasn’t weakness... it was a strength of love that few of us can understand, much less realize in our lifetimes.
“the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying, "Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created."”
Revelation 4:10-11 ESV
Humility, it means taking a low view of one’s own importance. How often do you run into people who are caught up in themselves? I am not talking about self confidence, but an arrogant belief that they are better than those around them. When you do, how does that make you feel about them? Jesus is the Son of God... He was a man who abided in God, and whom God’s also abided; and yet this Son of God humbled Himself... He took on human flesh to redeem us because that was His Father’s will.
“And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”
Philippians 2:8 ESV
And, He never complained about it. Do you think He was stepping up in the grand order of things when He stepped into flesh? No! But, He was increasing when He humbly submitted to His Father’s will.
“Humility is not so much a virtue along with the others, but is the root of all, because it alone takes the right attitude before God and allows Him, as God, to do all.” - Andrew Murray
When we humble ourselves before God it allows Him to control our lives and thus reveal to us His will, and how we should obey it. When we humble ourselves before men we are displaying the character of Jesus. Only in the last several years have we started to see this trait honored in the business community, but because of political correctness it is called “Servant Management.” The ides of leading by becoming a servant to those you lead is so foreign to us, but it is exactly what Jesus taught, and the Bible records. It has become vogue in this time of viewing God as a mythological figure, and ourselves as divine, to take Bible teachings, and to wrap them in humanism... thus making to believe they are Man’s thoughts. In this our pride and arrogance has taken us into the same territory that Satan’s took him... and brought about his fall.
“Your heart was proud because of your beauty; you corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor. I cast you to the ground; I exposed you before kings, to feast their eyes on you. By the multitude of your iniquities, in the unrighteousness of your trade you profaned your sanctuaries; so I brought fire out from your midst; it consumed you, and I turned you to ashes on the earth in the sight of all who saw you.”
Ezekiel 28:17-18 ESV
“And so Jesus came to bring humility back to earth, to make us partakes of it, and by it to save us. In heaven He humbled Himself to become a man. Here on earth “He humbled Himself to become obedient to death.” - Andrew Murray
So Jesus teaches us a foundational truth regarding faith, and our relationship with God. Listen to Paul as he explains this to the Philippians...
“Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
Philippians 2:5-11 ESV
Are you humble? Is this something you have even strived towards? If it isn’t then you are attempting to build your house of faith on sinking sand. Humility is a bedrock principle of the Christian faith. Pastors who are not humble need step back from the pulpit and sequester themselves in prayer until they are, and we as lay people need to look at our dealings with others, and our lives, as we seek out the servant character, and humility of Christ.
Are you ready to be less so that you can be more?
“He must increase, but I must decrease." He who comes from above is above all. He who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks in an earthly way. He who comes from heaven is above all.
Whoever receives his testimony sets his seal to this, that God is true.”
John 3:30-31, 33 ESV
Prayer:
Father, thank you for your Son who humbles Himself before your throne, and teaches us the lessons of personal humility before you, and our fellow man. Thank you for revealing to us that there is no greater love than to lay our lives down for another... which is the ultimate act of humility that we can exhibit on this earth. Help me Holy Father to overcome my pride, arrogance, and sense of self worth because these things stand in the way of my being humble, and make all attempts at humility fruitless. Teach me the meaning of strength in meekness, and the power to be found in serving others. Bless me in my humility towards my family, friends, and all others I come into contact with. Bless me greatly as I humble myself before you. Let the humility of Jesus Christ flow from me, and be an example of His love. You are my God, and my great King above all Kings! Holy, Holy, Holy are you before whom I fall prostrate in worship and adoration. Great are you who hears my prayers, clothes them in my faith, humility, and the blood of Christ, then delivers on your promise. Praised be your name, for all glory is yours... even in the smallest of things that are by my hand as I serve you.
“Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”
Matthew 11:29 ESV
Rich Forbes