“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. 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 2:3-8 New International Version).
Jesus was perfectly obedient to the Father. He was completely humble — to the point of giving His earthly body as a sacrifice for the humans He created with Father God, even though we continually sin against Him.
How do we follow Jesus’ example of humbling ourselves and valuing people as Philippians 2:3-8 teaches?
Consider how Jesus demonstrated His mindset with His actions.
He washed the disciples’ dirty feet.
He knew that Roman soldiers would kill Him, but Jesus healed the son of a Roman military officer.
Even though it was not considered socially acceptable on many fronts for Him to speak with a Samaritan woman, Jesus not only held a conversation with her, but also asked her for a drink of water, taught her, and testified that He was the Christ. When she shared this with her community, He stayed two days with the Samaritans and taught them as well.
He invited men from many backgrounds to be His first followers, including one of the tax collectors, who were treated in their society as outcasts.
The Jews believed it was unlawful to heal someone on the Sabbath Day, but Jesus had compassion on a man whose hand was withered and healed him anyway, which incited some of the Jewish leaders to create a plan to kill Him.
Jesus, the Son of God, referred to His disciples as His brothers and sisters.
On more than one occasion, He fed thousands who were hungry.
He chose to ride on a donkey, rather than on a horse.
Jesus demonstrated His humility in countless ways, yet even these few examples lead us to ask an important question.
Do we truly value other people above ourselves?
If this question causes us to take a deep breath because we struggle with pride (or other sins), let us repent before the Father and ask His forgiveness. We could also confess this before one of the mature Christian sisters, asking her to pray for us.
Jesus is King of all kings, yet He humbled Himself as a servant and demonstrated His humility by His actions. Not by our own power but by the power of Holy Spirit who lives in us, we as Christians can humble ourselves, too.
Before we move too quickly to the next item on our list of things that must be done today, may we each prayerfully consider an important question.
What will I do to demonstrate humility in my life?
– Jo Umberger, Vice President, NewLife Behavior International
Scripture Quotations
Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
If you want to learn more about who Jesus and how to follow Him, here’s a short article to help you get started — https://woww.newlifebehavior.org/what-it-means-to-follow-jesus-how-to-become-a-christian/.
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