The humility of Christ

Romans 12:16 Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation. Today’s Scripture highlights for us how important humility is in loving others. I have suggested that God has called all believers to live to love with Jesus as their purpose in life because that’s how God is most glorified. God is love, and since we are united with Christ, we are fundamentally united with love. Here in vs. 16, Paul again brought up the issue of humility to the Romans. One definition of humility really stands out to me. Humility is recognizing that all that I have has come from God. That humility undergirds Paul’s thinking when it comes to pride. In Romans 11:18 Paul wrote, “Do not be arrogant toward the branches; but if you are arrogant, remember that it is not you who supports the root, but the root supports you.” Again in Romans 11:25 Paul warned, “For I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery — so that you will not be wise in your own estimation.” Then Paul bolstered his argument against pride when he told them in Romans 11:32 “For God has shut up all in disobedience so that He may show mercy to all.” Finally, in Rom. 12:3 he admonished each one “not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think.” So whatever we have, we have received it from God according to His mercy. The humility of Christ lives in us, and his mindset is clearly articulated in Philippians 2:5-8. “Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” If we are living to love with Jesus, then we will have His attitude of humility undergirding all our relationships. We must not think that our wisdom or our position in life is a result of anything but God’s mercies. That means we are all to be of the same mind. We are on the same level as everyone before God—we are all sinners. Our only boast is in Christ, Him crucified for us, and His life in us. This should free us to love everyone with Jesus with an attitude of humility. Therefore we should not be haughty or think we are above anyone. May this Scripture encourage us to not be selective or partial in who we respond to as God puts people in our paths to love with Jesus. Father, thank You for reaching down to us so we might be Your vessels of love to all those You put in our paths today. Acknowledgment: Music from “Carried by the Father” by Eric Terlizzi. www.ericterlizzi.com