He Humbled Himself

The humility of Christ is not merely something to admire. It is something Scripture tells us to have among ourselves. In PHILIPPIANS 2:5 (ESV), Paul says, "Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus." He then points to the humility of the Son, who took the form of a servant and became obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. This passage takes us deeper than manners. Christian humility is not pretending we have no gifts. It is not self-hatred. It is the mind of Christ shaping the way we use our lives. Jesus did not cling to privilege for selfish gain. He came down. He served. He obeyed. He gave Himself. That confronts pride in us. Pride wants to be noticed. Pride wants to be right. Pride wants the higher place. Pride wants service without cost and obedience without inconvenience. Pride becomes offended when it is not treated as central. But Christ humbled Himself. The Son of God took the servant's place without losing His glory. His humility was not weakness. It was holy obedience and saving love.

JOHN 13:14-15 (ESV) records Jesus telling His disciples that if He, their Lord and Teacher, washed their feet, they also ought to wash one another's feet. If this is the way of the Master, His servants cannot treat selfish ambition as normal. Look honestly at your relationships. Where has pride hardened your tone? Where do you demand to be served while resisting humble love? Where have you made your rights, preferences, or reputation the centre? The answer is not to shame yourself into performance. The answer is to look to Christ until His mind reforms yours. He humbled Himself. And those who belong to Him are called to walk in His humility.