Becoming Lowly
Humility. The world defines this as someone who is modest, or has a low view of their own importance. While that is true, I also think it’s so much deeper than that. True humility is more than not taking credit for something or refraining from a brag. It’s being fully aware of your brokenness and imperfection. Humility is being authentically you, but knowing that everything you are and everything you have is a gift from God. Knowing that what you own and the opportunities you receive are not because you deserve it, but because of God’s grace and kindness. Humility is also putting others before yourself. Recognizing that this life is not about you. It is about so much more than you.
Philippians 2:3-4 says, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interest of others.” In this verse, Paul is explaining to us how we should live out our daily lives. The basic fundamentals. Then, he goes on to give us a real-life example of how to live this out. The example of Jesus Christ. Philippians 2:8 tells us, “And being found in human form, he humbled himself becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” There is no clearer picture of selflessness and humility than this story of Jesus Christ. He made the ultimate sacrifice for us. He gave up a perfect life in Heaven to live 33 years on this broken earth, ended by a painful and brutal death that he did not deserve. All so we can get the opportunity to have a personal relationship with God and live eternally in Heaven with him one day! So, my question to you is this: are you willing to sacrifice the things in your life that are valuable to you in order to look more like Jesus? Are you willing to give up everything you have, taking on a humble and lowly posture, so that you can strive to have the same mindset that Christ did?
In Philippians 2:7, we are told that Jesus literally made himself nothing by taking on the nature of a servant. The Son of God did that. The Messiah, Savior of the world did that. He made himself NOTHING. He was lowly. He was a true servant. He loved well, he washed people’s feet, he raised the dead to life. His whole life he was serving other people and glorifying God every step of the way. How much are you willing to serve? Do you find yourself in a place of wanting to be served more than wanting to serve others? I know I do sometimes. It’s really easy to become victim to the thought that we deserve all these blessings and this attention from the people around us. But when we find ourselves there, in a state of pride, we have found ourselves at the root of evil. At the root of sin. Those are moments that we need to surrender it all. Remind ourselves that nothing in this world is worth more than the act of following Christ. Matthew 16:25-26 says, “For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?” Lose your life for Christ and in him you will find it.
Humility requires obedience. Obedience to the Lord, your parents, your spouse, whoever it may be. Again, in Philippians 2:8, it says Jesus humbled himself by becoming OBEDIENT. It wasn’t necessarily easy for him. But he did not turn and run away from what the Lord called him to. He simply submitted. And that’s what we are called to do. In order to look more like Jesus, we must submit like he did.
Our salvation is the result of Jesus’ humility. The lowlier we become, the closer we are to him. Let that be your prayer! Not to be exalted, not to receive wealth and riches, but to be lowly. To be a servant to God and to others. There is a quote in the book Humility by Andrew Murray that says this, “Just as water seeks and fills the lowest place, so the moment God finds the creature empty, His glory and power flow in to exalt and to bless.” Be the crack in the ground. Present yourself as an empty vessel because that is where God can do his full and complete work in us. That is where you will be filled. That is where you will be blessed!
Challenges:
1. Show gratitude. I believe showing gratitude is one of the best ways to pursue humility and it makes it hard for pride to creep in. Things are not always going to be easy and go your way, but there’s always something to be thankful for. If you can’t think of literally anything else, you can find gratitude in the work of the cross.
2. Have the same mindset as Jesus. Philippians 2:5, “In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus.” In all that you do, I challenge you to love, serve, and live as Jesus did! Make this a priority in your life and you will find so much joy.
3. Actively kneel before God. Physically posturing yourself before the Lord is so powerful and real. I encourage you to take one step further than just “picturing” yourself kneeling and actually do it. Philippians 2:10 tells us, “At the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth.”
Prayer:
Lord, thank you for today! Thank you for every single person reading this right now. I pray for your peace and comfort to overtake them today. I pray for humility for all of us and that we would constantly strive to live like Jesus did. Thank you that you have given us a perfect example to follow. I pray that even on our hard days when we feel like we have nothing to be thankful for, we would humble ourselves before you with a grateful heart. I pray that when people are praising us and lifting us up, we would not get caught up in the world, but we would still humble ourselves before you with a grateful heart. God, you are worthy of our praise. May we live a lowly life so that we may be exalted in you and find ourselves close to you. We love you and we give you all the glory. In Jesus’ name! Amen!