Humility

February 5

Exodus 15-16

Psalm 18:30-36

Proverbs 4:7-9

Matthew 23:1-22

Humility

“The greatest among you will be your servant.  For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”  Matthew 23:11-12 NIV

This verse seems to be in direct conflict with what we are taught in our society.  We are told that we deserve the best, we should demand our rights, and we have to do whatever it takes to get ahead.  If we don’t toot our own horn, then who will?  The idea of humility, especially for women, is demeaning and degrading.  Everyone is concerned about having healthy self-esteem and we have mistakenly equated humility with low self-esteem.  Our value and worth is not based on our accomplishments or abilities.  It is not based on who we are, but on whose we are.  As Christians, we are children of the King.  The God of the universe is our Father.  We haven’t done anything to deserve to be called His children and yet He has adopted us as His own.  As we humbly accept our position, we can see others in the way God sees them.  And love them with the love that God has for them. 

Jesus, who Himself was God the Son, said, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”  Mark 10:45 (NIV) Jesus spent His time on Earth serving others.  If anyone had the right to demand to be served, it was Him.  He was God Almighty and yet He put that aside because of His love for us.  As we draw close to Him, we can see ourselves for the sinful beings that we are.  If we look around us, we may think that we measure up ok until we realize that our standard is Jesus.  When we recognize our own sinfulness, we can grasp what He has done for us and humbly seek to share that with others so that they too can know His amazing love.