Monday
Matthew 11.28-29 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”
Meek and humble does not mean weak and docile. The word ‘gentle’ is also used for the yoked ox, which displays strength harnessed to purpose. The humility of Christ is shown in his gentleness of heart and the resilience of his love. Christian humility is likewise a willingness not to be served, but to serve, and a readiness to give rather than insist on receiving. “Lord, help me to take your yoke, and learn of you.”
Tuesday
Matthew 18.3-4 Jesus said: “Truly I tell you… whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”
To take the lowest position goes against the natural grain of the ego. We are so used to the competitive stance; we like to be given our place; and we enjoy asserting our independence. Jesus’ words were given as an answer to the question, “Who will be the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?” The child who trusts, says Jesus. The one who hasn’t yet been educated in cynicism. Humility is to know we have a lot to learn about God, our hearts, our neighbour, and how each one connects to the others!
Wednesday
1 Peter 5.5 “All of you, clothe yourselves with humility towards one another, because, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
Peter has been talking about spiritual leadership, and how we relate to other people. He is describing what it means to take responsibility for each other, by being the kind of person who is an example of God’s care. Humility is not thinking less of yourself; it is thinking of others more. God can never bless arrogance, entitlement or power-seeking – he pours his grace into hearts open to others and full of the grace of Christ.
Thursday
Philippians 2.3 “Do nothing out of selfish ambition, or vain conceit, but in humility count others better than yourselves.”
That sounds like a counsel of perfection! Surely we have a right to have a good sense of ourselves, our gifts, our value, and what we bring to the table of those around us? Yes, but Paul is talking about when that sense of personal value becomes so important we don’t notice or deliberately ignore the gifts and value of others, whether in church, where we work, or in our families. C. S. Lewis gave good advice: “Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it’s thinking of yourself less.”
Friday
Colossians 3.12 “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.”
Humility sits at the centre of the cluster of the well-dressed Christian mind and heart. When fastened together these five ways of thinking and feeling about others will transform relationships within any community. To have empathy, to act kindly, to think of the interests of the other, to show both concern and respect, and to take your time with people – that’s how the community called, sanctified and loved by God goes about its business of being and building the Body of Christ.
Saturday
James 3.13 “Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom“.
This is about lifestyle, the life as an argument and witness to our faith in Christ, who is the wisdom of God. To serve others in the love of Christ, to look to the interests of others rather than our own interests, to bear one another’s burdens in obedience to the law of Christ, to welcome one another as God in Christ has welcomed us, to love as Christ has loved us – that is the humility that comes from wisdom.
Sunday
Philippians 2.5-8 “In your relationships with one another, have the same mind-set 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!”
The humility of Christ is the inspiration and pattern of Christian humility. These profound words give us the merest glimpse into the heart and mind of God in Christ. At the eternal centre of God’s loving plan of salvation is the triune love of God, revealed in the humble obedience of Christ Jesus, his death and resurrection, in the power of the Spirit. “He was rich, but for our sakes became poor, that we through his poverty might become rich…thanks be to God for his indescribable gift.”
May the mind of Christ, my Saviour,
Live in me from day to day,
By His love and power controlling
All I do and say.
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