Understand and emulate Christ's humility, valuing others above ourselves and serving with selfless love.
Hello, family! Today, we're diving deep into a topic that's near and dear to the heart of our Savior: humility.
One of my favorite quotes on this topic comes from C.S. Lewis, "Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it's thinking of yourself less." Powerful stuff, right? It's a mind shift, a way of life that Jesus Himself embodied fully and teaches us to strive towards.
Let's focus our attention on Philippians 2:1-13, where Paul paints a vivid picture of Christ's humility and challenges us to follow suit:
Living in humility, as we see in the life of Jesus, is a radical departure from the world's way of thinking. It's not about self-deprecation or having a low opinion of oneself, but rather, it's about having a proper understanding of our place in relation to God and others. It's about recognizing that we are not the center of the universe, but rather, we are part of a larger community where everyone has value and worth.
What living in humility looks like: Paul points us to Jesus, who, despite being in the very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage. Instead, He made Himself nothing, taking on the very nature of a servant, and became obedient to death, even death on a cross. This is the epitome of humility. Jesus, the King of kings and Lord of lords, chose to become a servant for our sake. He put aside His divine privileges and embraced a life of suffering and sacrifice. He did not do this out of obligation, but out of love for us.
Putting others before ourselves: It's about valuing others above ourselves and looking out for their interests rather than just our own. This is a counter-cultural way of living that goes against our human nature, which is often self-centered and self-serving. But as followers of Christ, we are called to live differently. We are called to follow the example of Jesus and live a life of humility.
You still matter: This does not mean that we should let people walk all over us or that we should ignore our own needs. Rather, it means that we should strive to serve others in love, just as Christ served us. It means that we should be willing to sacrifice our own comfort and convenience for the sake of others. It means that we should be willing to put aside our own desires and ambitions in order to help others achieve theirs.
Recognizing our dependence on God: It means acknowledging that we are not self-sufficient, but that we need God's grace and mercy every day. It means admitting our mistakes and failures and seeking God's forgiveness and guidance. It means being willing to learn from others, rather than always insisting on our own way.
Not easy: It requires a daily surrender of our will to God's will. It requires a constant dying to self and a constant choosing to serve others. But the rewards are great. As Paul tells us, Jesus, because of His humility, was exalted to the highest place and given the name that is above every name. Similarly, when we choose to live in humility, we are promised that God will exalt us in due time.
Christ's example of humility is perhaps the most profound and impactful aspect of His earthly ministry ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO
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