Sunday sermon review - Put on Humility

Is there a more difficult component of Christ’s character to “put on” than humility??? First of all it is difficult to get a really solid understanding of what humility is. Does it mean we put ourselves down all the time? Or should we constantly defer to others’ ideas and opinions? Are humble people the ones who are go around constantly talking about God like they are selling Him on an infomercial? 

Humility is a tough trait to nail down. 

God’s word is clear on its importance though…

1 Peter 5:5

Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."

Wow. God opposes the proud… He sets his forces against them. BUT He gives grace to the humble. 

So it would be great if we knew how to clothe ourselves in humility! 

This is where Philippians 2:1-11 comes in. It is, I think, the best passage we have to display Christ’s humility. Jesus washing the disciples feet is another great look at humility, but nothing can top the completeness of the humiliation process like this passage in Philippians. Because we both parts of humility: the willing humiliation of Jesus and God’s subsequent exaltation in response. 

No one has ever been brought so low as Christ. From the infinite, eternal love relationship amid the Godhead to taking on the nature of his creation and becoming a curse (Galatians 3:13) and to be sin (2 Corinthians 5:21) and die taking ALL of God’s wrath meant for his people (1 John 2:2). 

But neither has one ever been exalted as high as Jesus because of his obedience to the Father. As low as He humbled Himself, God exalted Him above all things!!!

We have the same promise from God in 1 Peter 5:6. We will be exalted proportionately if we humble ourselves willingly before his mighty hand. 

So, what is humility? By following the example of Christ we would have to define it this way…

Be obedient to the Father through the grace of Christ by willingly lowering yourself to meet the needs of others. 

I pray that all us Christians will learn from Christ and put on humility. A lost world is desperately needing to see and receive the gospel from such a humble people.