PHILIPPIANS 2:1-8 – So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 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.
THEME OF THE DAY: THE NECESSITY AND BEAUTY OF HUMILITY. It is the most important work God does in the lives of His children. I know that is a bold statement and I am not claiming to “have the mind of the Lord” speaking with such authority. But search the scriptures. Only the humbled, made aware of their sins and total inability to reconcile with God by themselves, come to Christ. Only those humbled by God will be saved by God. This truth makes humility a necessary work by God in the human being, but it isn’t a completed work at salvation. Next comes the beauty of humility developed in the lives of His children. And it is painful work because it necessitates the death of self, daily, for life.
What is the ugliest thing in the world? Selfishness. Are we convinced? Let me put a couple of situations before us to test the rightness of my question and answer. When in the company of another person and said person dominates the conversation with everything about themselves, how did that make us feel? Emotionally drained? Discouraged? Think about the last time an individual engaged us in a dialogue and this person never paused to ask about us, sought to know about our lives, and simply looked at being a blessing to us by ignoring themselves. Fairly rare, isn’t it? Sadly, fairly rare even among Christians. Ever been in a conversation with Christians and they just want to talk about how God is using them, what they are learning, or even how they are suffering? Not very encouraging for sure. And behind all this selfishness is the mother of all sin – pride, and pride is ugly. It is the antithesis of the call of Christ to His people.
Now, what is the most beautiful thing in the world? Selflessness. And the opposite of what creates the ugly sin of selfishness, pride, is what creates the beauty of selflessness – humility.
Humility is so beautiful because it reflects the loveliest of all Persons – the Lord Jesus Christ. Meditate on this most precious and sacred of invitations given by the Lord Jesus; an invitation that reveals the humble heart and approachability of the Lord – Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 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. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light (Matthew 11:28-30). What a picture of the heart of God! It draws people to Him. It encourages the discouraged. It lifts up the downcast. And through this work of humility in the believer, of becoming like the Lord Jesus, we will be used greatly by the Lord Jesus in the lives of others. Why? He will receive all the glory because humble people never draw attention to themselves. They point people to the beauty of the humble Lord Jesus.
PRAYER: “Father, help me not resist the painful work of You developing humility in my life.”
QUOTE: “Humility is the necessary virtue for all spiritual growth and the most beautiful in all of life.”