Day 9 — The Beauty Of Christ’s Humility
Opening Prayer
Lord Jesus, turn my eyes from self-preoccupation to the beauty of your humility. Thank you that, though you are Lord, you took the place of a servant and humbled yourself to the cross for me. By your Spirit, give me your mindset and free me to seek the good of others. Amen.
Headline
Christ’s humility is the beauty of divine glory expressed in self-giving love.
Philippians 2:1-11
2 Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
7 rather, he made himself nothing
by taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
8 And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
Comment
Yesterday, Psalm 8 taught us to see ourselves truthfully before the majestic God: small but crowned, dependent but dignified. Today Paul turns our gaze to Jesus. In him we see what true humility looks like: not denying glory, but expressing it through self-giving love for others.
Notice where Paul begins. Before calling us to humility, he names what is already ours: “encouragement from being united with Christ”, “comfort from his love” and a common sharing in the Spirit (v.1). Humility is not a character project undertaken alone or an attempt to earn God’s favour. United with Christ, loved by him and given his Spirit, we have the fertile ground in which humility grows.
Paul names the inward curve of pride: selfish ambition, vain conceit and preoccupation with our own interests. Humility turns us outward: “in humility value others above yourselves” (v.3). This does not require pretending that others are wiser, more gifted or more valuable, or that we have no legitimate needs. It means giving real weight to another person’s good rather than treating our own advantage or recognition as the centre.
The pattern is Jesus himself. Though he was “in very nature God”, he did not use equality with God “to his own advantage” (v.6). Unlike Adam and Eve, the Son does not grasp or exploit his status. The one whose hands formed the stars takes the servant’s place. Divine greatness is revealed as love that stoops to serve.
When Paul says that Jesus “made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant” (v.7), he does not mean that Jesus ceased to be God or regarded himself as worthless. He makes himself nothing not by surrendering his divinity, but by taking our humanity and a servant’s place. Humility is not self-erasure; it is secure strength directed towards another’s good.
His descent goes further still: “he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!” (v.8). The cross was a place of shame, yet Jesus willingly enters it to save us. Here is the deepest beauty of humility: the Lord of glory gives himself for proud and needy people. His humility is obedient, self-sacrificing love.
The Father exalts Jesus and gives him the name before which every knee will bow (vv.9 -11). Jesus does not grasp for honour; he entrusts himself to the Father. We do not practise humility to gain recognition. Because our lives are secure in Christ, we can leave our reputation with God and take the lower place without fearing that we will disappear.
Paul invites us not merely to admire Jesus but to share his mindset (v.5). United with Christ and renewed by his Spirit, we can listen, perform a hidden task, give credit away, yield a preference or make room for someone overlooked. Pride asks how this serves me. Christ’s humility asks how I may use what God has given me for another’s good.
Why does God want me to hear this today? Perhaps because I can turn humility into another anxious assessment of myself. Paul invites me instead to look to Jesus: to receive the comfort of his love, marvel at his cross and trust his Spirit to form his mindset in me. I do not need to secure my place or protect my importance. The Lord who stooped to save me now frees me to bend towards the needs of others in love.
Reflect
- What does Paul say believers have already received before he calls them to humility?
- How does Jesus’ humility differ from humiliation, weakness or low self-worth?
- What interest, preference or recognition are you most reluctant to lay down for the good of another?
Action
Pray Philippians 2:5 slowly: “In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus.” Choose one interest, preference or advantage to lay down today for the good of someone else. If possible, make it a hidden act of service for which you will receive no recognition. As you do it, thank Jesus that his humble service has already secured your place in his love.
Closing Prayer
Lord Jesus Christ, you did not use your glory for your own advantage, but took the place of a servant and humbled yourself to death on a cross for me. Forgive my selfish ambition, vain conceit and anxious concern for recognition. Thank you for the comfort of your love and the gift of your Spirit. Give me your mindset, and teach me to use all that you have given me in humble, joyful service of others, to the glory of God the Father. Amen.
Discover more from St Andrew's Roseville
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.