Evidences of Humility

5 You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.
6 Though he was God,
      he did not think of equality with God
      as something to cling to.
7 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges;
      he took the humble position of a slave
      and was born as a human being.
When he appeared in human form,
      8 he humbled himself in obedience to God
      and died a criminal’s death on a cross. (Phil. 2:5 – 8 NLT)

Jesus, who is our unparalleled example of humility, while upon earth literally could have been the embodiment of a super hero or the alien from another world with supreme power. He could have wowed the populace and wooed the noble into following Him. Jesus could have been the conqueror of the world.

With His infinite knowledge and authority over the elements He could have ushered in the generation of technology with His unfathomable wisdom. He could have established colleges and schools of philosophy. Jesus was in a strategic position to be the ultimate human. None of which, however, would have saved the souls of humankind from our sins.

Jesus instead chose to make “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” (Phil. 2:6 – 8 NJKV).

Jesus chose to be our Savior, submitting perfectly and specifically to the will of His Father. He asserted, “I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me” (John 5:30 ESV).

Humility is understanding that your life is not you own, for it has been given by God and is to be directed at His will. See 1 Corinthians 6:12 – 20.

Humility is based in trusting God who loves you and will work all things for His glory and your well-being. See 2 Corinthians 4:7 – 10.

Humility submits your soul to Christ because His blood has purchased it; and therefore, humility realizes that your life is to be spent for His pleasure. See Romans 12:1 – 2.

Humility empties your soul of self concerning any notion that you have rights that entitle you to preferential treatment over another person. See Philippians 2:3 – 4.

Humility is the attitude of the soul when you have removed from your heart any assertion that promotes self-interest over God's will, and is devoid of any resistance that asserts itself against God's purpose. See Philippians 2:5 – 10.

Humility is the soul finding Jesus relevant to every area of life. The humble waits dependently for Christ seeking to “live out your salvation to its full potential with fear and trembling.” See Philippians 2:11 – 12.

Humility is predicated upon the premise that God has the sovereign right to order your steps in any manner that pleases His holy purpose. See Isaiah 45:9, 11 – 12.

Humility is not simply a disposition or an attitude fostered by an attempt to subdue self. Rather humility is a condition of soul shaped into the image of Jesus through the dynamics facilitated by the Holy Spirit. See Galatians 5:16 – 25.

The Holy Spirit, as He leads us to encounter truth, to believe truth, to be traumatized by truth, and to enter into the brokenness fostered by truth, transforms us into a divine person submissive and obedient to His will. Being therefore willing to give up our willfulness, humility becomes the quintessential [representing the most perfect or typical example of a quality or class] essence and manifest state of brokenness.

With these evidences of humility in mind, would you characterize yourself as a humble person?


Insight Journal
In what ways does my life evidence humility?
In what ways does my life NOT evidence humility?

How Can I Be Humble?

“I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility…” Eph. 4:1-2 ESV.

Do you have the tendency to defend, promote, or preserve yourself? Do you strive to be seen in the best possible light? Do you always want to be right and viewed as successful? The extent to which you engage in promoting your self is the evidence that you are lacking in humility.

When confronted with sin, the human condition seeks to respond by excusing the issue of sin or explaining the episode surrounding the sin, all for the purpose of escaping any exposure to sin. Selfish ambition and vain conceit are pervasive within our normal course of life, creating such a condition of heart where humility is a rarity. Humility as a construct has been so marred by self-centered intent that its meaning within our culture is obscure.

To prove this point, simply ask anyone to define humility. The response you may anticipate will be a very blank look followed by a random attempt to provide an answer. Most of the answers will be from previously heard sermons articulated without personal experience with what is being tendered. The reality will become obvious that humility is not apart of our social norm.

Christians today substitute humility for a pretense of being right. Thus within a conflict the modern day Christian seeks how they may best promote themselves while posturing to look the most righteous within the conflict. Therefore eliminating the need to be humble for being right. Such a demeanor concerning humility would demonstrate how far from the true meaning of meekness we have strayed.

There is a chasm between our theology and how we treat others, between our doctrinal faith and our deployment of our faith, between our position in Christ and our practice of Christianity. To appreciate this expanse, just consider that anything not done in love is preformed through selfish ambition. To understand the potency of this point simply read the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:1 – 7:29). Here you will be shown by Christ the nature of the issue. Consider the Beatitudes as a sample.

And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:
      “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
      “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
      “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
      “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
      “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
      “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
      “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
      “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
      “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. (Matt. 5:2 – 11 ESV)

Humility is all about what I am not. One who possesses the virtue of humility discerns from within their soul, that they bring nothing to God so as to increase Him. Additionally they know that they add nothing to God so as to enhance Him. Therefore, bringing nothing to God nor adding anything to God, the humble of heart grasp that they stand before God only by the love of His redeeming grace. Humility leads the broken to understand that only by divine enablement can personal empowerment be embraced.

Pride while bringing honor, praise, and exaltation to self asserts with pious tone, "I want to do great things for God or I want God to do great things through me." Pride misses the point completely for being emerged in the pursuit of greatness—only God is great, and apart from His enabling grace and the perfecting work of Jesus Christ we are incapable of industry for God.

Industry, compelled by our intimacy with God, prompts us within our service to glorify God, to edify God's people, and to solidify God's will on earth. There is no room for self to glory in what self has done. Nor is there time for self to bask in the residual effects of accomplishment, whereby one is validated to feeling significant and secure. Humility proclaims that self has nothing to contribute.

The two polar extremes that block dependency on Jesus are “I am not good enough” and “I am good enough.” The reality is that it is not about us—whether we are or are not good enough. It is about Christ and what He has accomplished.

Insight Journal
1. When do I try to defend, promote, or preserve myself?
2. How do I define humility?
3. Do I agree with the statement that anything not done in love is preformed through selfish ambition?

(excerpts from Desperate Dependency by J. Kirk & Melanie D. Lewis)

Walk Worthy of Your Call

Paul, after expounding the depths of the Christian's IDENTITY in Christ and the INTIMACY that ensues upon entering into the truth of who we are in Christ, admonishes the Ephesian church to INDUSTRY.

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. (Eph. 4:1–3 ESV)

The message of our book, Desperate Dependency, emphasizes that Jesus makes a difference in your life and this difference is embraced through "finding Christ relevant to every area of your life." Paul focuses on the three issues that bring Christ's relevance to fruition within the Christian's life experience – IDENTITY, INTIMACY, and INDUSTRY. Paul exhorts the church to arise and take their place within God's divine economy, while making the spiritual investment worthy of a child of God. One may hear the words of Christ echoing from the timbre of Paul's pleading.

If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul? (Matt. 16:24 ESV)

We must notice that Paul is making his earnest appeal for “walking worthy” as he sits confined in a prison. The words "I therefore a prisoner" are followed by the dative case phrase "for the Lord" showing that Paul's imprisonment was by virtue of his relationship with Jesus.

Within the context of walking worthy of the Lord, Paul admonishes further:

So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do. Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, (Eph. 5:15-18 NLT).

The verb tense of "walk worthy" emphasizes that we, the professing believer, in covenant relationship with Christ, are to choose to embrace a pattern of life that is submissive to Christ and obedient to all His principles and precepts, so that we may then live within God's good pleasure and live out His redemptive plan for our souls.

We are to make all concerted efforts, within the confines of enabling grace, to live righteously in all areas and circumstances of our lives. Asserting in practice what Christ has personally instilled within us positionally (2 Peter 1:5-10). We have been afforded this magnificent opportunity because God is our Father, we are His children, and because our Father has a plan for each one of His children. This sentiment expresses our IDENTITY, INTIMACY, and INDUSTRY within the confines of our covenant relationship with Jesus, allowing us the ability to find Christ relevant to every area of life.

Therefore we are to walk in a manner that is worthy of God's call. “…live a life that corresponds to the standard (God) set when he called you.”* People who identify themselves as Christians must understand that they are called to live divinely within a sinful world, that any orientation towards and quest for evil is a violation and betrayal of covenant faithfulness to God.

God is not calling us to some compartmentalized contradiction where our service is a mockery to our spiritual condition, or where INDUSTRY scoffs at the lack of INTIMACY with Christ, as we wander aimlessly because of a lack of IDENTITY in Christ.

God has not sentenced us, within the Christian life, to sojourn within a barren wasteland. God does not set His children up to fail. He desires for us to possess our birthright (IDENTITY in Christ) and to live congruently with what God has willed for us (INTIMACY with Christ) so as to be compelled by the essence of Christ alive and dynamic within each of us (INDUSTRY for Christ).

The call of God expresses His will and good pleasure for us, communicated to those who were willing to receive Him (Phil. 2:12-13). This call encompasses all aspects and intentions of His having called us to Himself through salvation, sanctification, and service.

As Louw & Nida have asserted in their linguistic recommendation, “I ask you then … live worthy of the responsibility which God has urgently invited you to accept” or “… live worthy of the task which God has given you to do.”*

The call of God is always in connection to completing His plan and fulfilling His purpose so as to accomplish His good intention – to complete His bride and to bring His children into the image of Jesus that praise would be brought to the glory of His grace.

The next several blog posts will be given to understanding what Paul was admonishing us to embrace in Ephesians 4:1-3, the walk that is "worthy of the calling to which you have been called."

Insight Journal
1. What does it mean for me to walk worthy of the calling by which I have been called?
2. Have I made the choice to embrace a pattern of life that is submissive to Christ and
obedient to all His principles and precepts?
3. Do I make all concerted efforts, within the confines of enabling grace, to live
righteously in all areas and circumstances of my life?

*Johannes P. Louw and Eugene Albert Nida, vol. 1, Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Based on Semantic Domains, electronic ed. of the 2nd edition. (New York: United Bible Societies, 1996).

Jesus Calling to Live in Dependence

JESUS is CALLING. DO you HEAR HIM?

After many years of writing her own words in her prayer journal, missionary Sarah Young decided to be more attentive to the Savior’s voice and begin “listening” for what He was saying. So with pen in hand, she embarked on a journey that forever changed her.

In the daily devotional Jesus Calling are the words and scriptures Jesus lovingly laid on her heart. Words of reassurance, comfort, hope. Words that have made her increasingly aware of His Presence and allowed her to enjoy His Peace.

Each day is written as if Jesus Himself were speaking to you. Because He is. Do you hear Him calling.

The following is Sarah Young’s entry for September 2.

Living in dependence on Me is a glorious adventure. Most people scurry around busily, trying to accomplish things through their own strength and ability. Some succeed enormously; others fail miserably. But both groups miss what life is meant to be: living and working in collaboration with Me.

When you depend on Me continually, your whole perspective changes. You see miracles happening all around, while others see only natural occurrences and “coincidences.” You begin each day with joyful expectation, watching to see what I will do. You accept weakness as a gift from Me, knowing the My Power plugs in most readily to consecrated weakness. You keep your plans tentative, knowing the My plans are far superior. You consciously live, move, and have your being in Me, desiring that I live in you. I in you, and you in Me. This is the intimate adventure I offer you.

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Cor. 12:9–10 NIV)

‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’ (Acts 17:28 NIV)

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. (Col. 2:6–7 NIV)

On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. (John 14:20 NIV)

(excerpts from Jesus Calling: Enjoying Peace in His Presence by Sarah Young)


Insight Journal
What has Jesus been saying to me?