Humility, By Ada Hardy

Christ’s Humility

“In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!” – Philippians 2:5-8 NIV (emphasis added)

In the book of Philippians, Paul praises Christ for his humility. Christ is the standard I need to imitate as a disciple.

Have I crucified my pride to the point where I take on the nature of a servant in God’s kingdom?

“But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.” (Romans 6:22)

Do I find joy in being a humble servant/slave to God and his righteousness?
Am I content with my role as a servant of the Lord?
Can I find peace in knowing that my master is God?

Humility Serves

Jesus’ example of the heart of a servant – John 13:2-5 NIV:

“The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.”

Here is some interesting commentary on John 13 from the Blue Letter Bible (https://www.blueletterbible.org/):

“… He took a towel and He girded himself with it. A man girded with a towel was a bond slave. This was the sign of a slave, a slave of the lowest order. And Jesus took this towel and girded Himself with it. The disciples did not understand what He was doing. Why would He gird Himself with this towel? That’s what a slave did.” – Chuck Smith Commentary

“Several years before in His ministry, Jesus said The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into His hand. (John 3:35) But this means that at this particular time, and in this particular circumstance, it was important that Jesus knew the Father had given all things into His hands. It was important because of the circumstance. Jesus was about to lower Himself, literally stooping in humble service to His disciples. As He served in this humble way, He did not do it from weakness. He did it from a position of all authority, because the Father had given all things into His hands.” – David Guzik commentary

“Each step in the whole astounding scene is imprinted on the mind of John. ‘Next He pours water into the basin,’ the basin which the landlord had furnished as part of the necessary arrangements’.” -Dods commentary

“None of the disciples were interested in washing each other’s feet. Any of them would have gladly washed Jesus’ feet. But they could not wash His without having to be available to wash the others’ feet, and that would have been an intolerable admission of inferiority among their fellow competitors for the top positions in the disciples’ hierarchy. So no one’s feet got washed.” – David Guzik commentary

Humility Brings Change

My humility shows God’s authority over my life.
Is God’s authority over my life evident?

My humility brings glory to God.
Have I been robbing God of his glory with my pride?

Humility is astonishing because it isn’t the way of the world. It’s the way of God.
Am I eager to show humility or am I waiting for others to be humble first?
Am I trying to follow the ways of God or the world?
What am I trying to prove in my pride? Who am I trying to please?

Jesus expects me to imitate him.
Is my life evidence of how I strive to imitate Christ?

“You save the humble, but bring low those whose eyes are haughty.” – Psalm 18:27

“Though the Lord is exalted, he looks kindly on the lowly; though lofty, he sees them from afar” – Psalm 138:6

Humility Makes A Decision

“If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.” – John 15:19 NIV (emphasis added)

1. I want to change my mindset, so that I see that every time I choose to be humble, I glorify God.
2. I want to pray daily about glorifying God through my humility.
3. I want to pray daily to ask God to help me crucify my pride.
4. I want to continue to get open about my pride and make sure I am being held accountable.

This quiet time is the series “Holiday Quiet Times” written for the month of December 2020 by brothers and sisters from the Phoenix and Tucson churches.  You can download the PDF packet here:  “2020 Holiday Quiet Times.“