Tag Archives: Humility

Articles

Oh, To Be Like Thee!

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“Oh, to be like Thee! blessed Redeemer:
This is my constant longing and prayer.”

Do we understand the implications of this desire? To be like Jesus is a multi-faceted mission, to develop characteristics more like our Savior and to even conform our actions and reactions to His.

Note that Jesus was absolutely holy. He was “in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15), relying on the Word of God and the strength provided through that Word to turn away from the “lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life” (1 John 2:16).

Yet, despite this absolute holiness, Jesus was also truly humble. “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name fo Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:5-11).

Jesus did not live a holy life in order to exalt Himself, but humbled Himself in full submission and obedience to the Father—and the Father exalted Him. Likewise, we do not live holy lives in order to be better than other people, but we live holy lives to honor God and glorify Him. “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up” (James 4:10).

Are you living a life of holiness and humility? Are you living like our blessed Redeemer? He is “the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him”—obey Him today!

Sermon Outlines

Let This Mind Be In You: Humility

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Philippians 2:5-8

I. THE HUMILITY OF CHRIST (Philippians 2:5-8)

    A. Who is Jesus? (Isaiah 9:6; 1 Timothy 6:15; Revelation 17:4)
    B. Why did He come? To accomplish the will of God (Matthew 26:39,42; 1 Peter 2:18-23)
    C. The result of Christ’s humility: God exalted Him (Philippians 2:9-11; 1 Peter 5:5-6; James 4:10)

II. WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO “HUMBLE YOURSELF”?

    A. The example of Christ: serving (John 13:3-17)
    B. The struggles of the apostles (Mark 10:35-45)

III. THE BLESSINGS OF HUMILITY

    A. God will lift you up (James 4:10)
    B. God will guide and teach you (Psalm 25:9; Jeremiah 10:23)
    C. God will give you grace (Proverbs 3:34; 1 Peter 5:5; Luke 18:9-14)
    D. Humility is accompanied by wisdom (Proverbs 11:2)
    E. Humility is honorable (Proverbs 16:18-19; 29:23)
Articles

Obedience Requires Humility

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Paul, Silas, and their fellow workers in the Lord encountered a great number of people on their missionary journey. Some of those people received their teachings, while others rejected the message of God. When they arrived in Philippi, the missionaries went to the riverside where a group of spiritually-minded women were praying on the Sabbath.

One of those women was named Lydia. As Paul taught the truth of Jesus Christ, Lydia’s heart was opened and she heeded his words. “And when she and her household were baptized, she begged us, saying, ‘If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.’ So she persuaded us” (Acts 16:15).

What a precious response to the Word of God. Luke does not record any arguing over the doctrine. Lydia did not make excuses for her shortcomings, nor did she “agree to disagree” with what Paul taught. She heard, she believed, and she was baptized.

How do you feel when you find out you have been wrong about something? Perhaps your boss showed you a more efficient way to do your job. Do you resist the change just because you have been doing it your way for years? Or do you recognize that there is a better way, and adjust accordingly?

Spiritually speaking, the new covenant of Jesus is “a better covenant” than the old Law of Moses, offering “a better hope” (Hebrews 7:19,22; 8:6). Christianity is better than any other religion, because it is the only path to salvation. Jesus Christ, and only Jesus Christ, is “the way, the truth, and the life.” He said, “No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6).

The church must follow the Word of God, and only the Word of God. No denominational creeds, no catechisms, nothing more and nothing less than the inspired Word. It is not arrogance, but rather humility, to recognize that we cannot improve upon His revelation. The Father said of Jesus, “This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!” (Luke 9:35).