Humility

I remember being in school and listening to secular songs with catchy beats. One of the songs I listened to had the lyrics "Sit Down, Be Humble”.  I didn’t think much about those words at that time in my life. Now, as a follower of Jesus Christ, the words HUMBLE and HUMILITY are very important in our faith walk. God desires us to be like Him and to position ourselves as sons and daughters in the Kingdom. 

As a boy, Jesus positioned himself to be disciplined by his parents and by God.

In Luke 2:41-52, we see that every year Jesus and his parents traveled to Jerusalem for the Passover Festival. This festival lasted seven days, and it celebrated the day the angel of death passed over the Israelites in Egypt (see Exodus 12). When the celebration was over, Jesus’ parents and other family members started the trip back home. To his parents' surprise, Jesus was not with them. He stayed back in Jerusalem to teach and talk with the religious leaders  in the Temple. After three days, Mary and Joseph found Jesus. Relieved to see him safe, they began to question Jesus and correct him as their son. Jesus positioned himself as a son and received the correction to allow him to flourish and grow in stature with God and people (see Luke 2:52).                                    

All throughout the New Testament, we can see that Jesus walked with humility, submission, and obedience to His Father. Through this obedience and submission, we are able to position ourselves as sons and daughters of the Most High.

Philippians 2:5-8 NLT says,

“You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though He was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.”

John 5:30 NLT says,

I can do nothing on my own. I judge as God tells me. Therefore, my judgement is just, because I carry out the will of the one who sent me, not my own will.”

Other ways Jesus showed humility:

• He was born in a stable and laid in a animal feeding trough
• He completed carpentry jobs for others
• He submitted to John’s baptism
• He paid taxes
• He performed menial servant duties
• He relied on his disciples for support
• He surrendered to soldiers
• He counted the interests of others as more significant than His own

 In Luke 7:36-50, we see a woman who chooses, through her submission and humility, to anoint Jesus’ feet with her tears and expensive oil from her alabaster jar. She then dried His feet with her hair. This woman was considered immoral in the eyes of many people. The Pharisees looked at her with shame and disgust. This woman had heard of Jesus and was aware of his signs and wonders. She submitted herself to Him in a way that surprised many. She knelt before Him and wept. This was her worship.         

We are told in Romans 12:1 to give our bodies to God as a living and Holy sacrifice. It says that “it is our spiritual worship.”  Giving ourselves to God in this way helps us to grow our faith and our trust in Him. Submitting to our LORD and His Word shows our humility and our love for Him and for all people. 

The Father allows us to choose, what is correct in his sight. Will you choose to be obident even when it is not easy? 

Points to ponder: 

1. What is something lately that you have given up for the Lord? What is hard or easy? 
2. Who is someone that you can do a better job in submitting to? 
3. How can you better position yourself as a son or daughter to the Lord? 

Song: Trust in God by Elevation worship 

Author: Toni Newby

Editor: Christine Platt