Humility

Humility is a cornerstone of the Christian life.  Humility towards God reflects a deep understanding of the sovereignty of God as well as our dependence on Him.  Humility is not self-deprecation, but a rightful and honest assessment about who you are in relation to God.  Peter encourages us, "Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you." 1 Peter 5:6.

A humble posture before God requires self-examination and an honest appraisal of our spiritual condition.   Since “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”, humility eliminates comparison and spiritual pride, causing us to acknowledge our sinful condition and our inability to do anything about it.

In this way, humility renders us both penitent and teachable.  Convicted by both Scripture and the Holy Spirit, we seek not only to be reconciled to God, but to know Him and to lean on Him.  We embrace his grace, rather than rely on our merit, or lack thereof. 

Humility also enables obedience, even when God’s will is inconvenient, costly or not fully understood.  This same humility allows us to put others ahead of ourselves, trusting God with both the outcome and the power to accomplish it.   All this points us to Jesus Christ.

Jesus himself is the ultimate example of humility.  Philippians 2:5-8 tells us, Jesus “who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.”  Jesus valued others (us) more highly than himself, being obedient to the Father.  His willingness to serve and obey, even to the point of suffering, is not only the perfect model for us, but it also is the posture required for us to receive His grace.

“This is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word.”  Isaiah 66:2    Humility is the proper posture of the created before the Creator and the redeemed before their Redeemer.   What is your posture?