“A person who dismisses or denies the threat of pride is proud.”
Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – July 26, 2023
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
Jesus modeled humility with His Father. As the son of God, He did not cling to His equality with God; rather, He obeyed His Father. On His own, Jesus could do nothing, but under the authority of His Father, He could do the will of Him who sent Him. As Jesus taught, the humble will be exalted, as Christ modeled in humility with His Father, “He humbled Himself in obedience to God…therefore, God elevated Him to the place of highest honor.” Philippians 2:8-9. Jesus’ humble assessment of being unable to do anything without His Father’s blessing is a call out to self-reliance rooted in pride. Pride cultivates sin, as humility cultivates character. Humility with the Father is the soil for the Spirit’s fruit to grow a life that produces lasting fruit. Without humility, the sense of nothingness, without the Lord, life is barren of fruit that remains.
Andrew Murray, the Dutch South African Pastor from the 19th century, describes Jesus’ humility with the Father, “God be all, in virtue of which it surrenders itself to His working alone. In Jesus, we shall see how both as the Son of God in heaven and as man upon earth, He took the place of entire subordination and gave God the honor and the glory which is due to Him. And what He taught so often was made true to Himself: ‘He that humbleth him: shall be exalted.’ As it is written, ‘He humbled Himself; therefore, God highly exalted Him.’” God exalts humility.
Humility with the Father is gained by a life that honors the Lord’s will above a personal desire. Your desire may be a worthy gesture, but is it born out of humility to serve without the need for recognition or reward? Murray develops this idea of Jesus in humility with the Father serving others, “It was because this humility was not only a temporary sentiment, wakened up and brought into exercise when He thought of God, but the very spirit of His whole life, that Jesus was just as humble in His intercourse with men as with God. He felt Himself the Servant of God for the men whom God made and loved; as a natural consequence, He counted Himself the Servant of men, that through Him God might do His work of love. He never for a moment thought of seeking His honor or asserting His power to vindicate Himself. His whole spirit was that of a life yielded to God to work in.” Humility serves at the pleasure of our loving Father.
Since Jesus humbly and joyfully submitted to His Father, we have the honor and privilege to follow His prideless path. Humility is heaven’s most potent weapon against pride. Just as Satan appealed to the pride of Adam and Eve’s unseemly curiosity leading them to make a selfish, foolish decision, so these same forces of evil whisper prideful thoughts to Jesus’ followers. A person who dismisses or denies the threat of pride is proud. Without acknowledging pride is a problem…we have a much bigger problem. A problem cannot be solved if it is not first recognized. Medical professionals understand that tests are necessary to isolate the type of infection so the most potent antibiotic can be prescribed. Pride is our ever-present demonic virus seeking to infect a life slowly and subtly, while humility is God’s remedy to heal proud hearts.
Humility with the Father is foundational to a healthy faith, as Jesus modeled the way for us: “I am not come of Myself”…”I do nothing of Myself.” John 7:28 “I have not come of Myself, but He sent Me” John 8:42. “I seek not Mine own glory.” John 8:50 “The words that I say, I speak not from Myself.” John 14:10
Prayer
Heavenly Father, I humble myself under your mighty hand and seek to do your will through Christ’s love and in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Application
What issue or person do I need to stop trying to control and humbly submit to trust in my heavenly Father?
Related Reading
Exodus 10:3; Deuteronomy 8:2; Ezra 8:21; James 4:6; 1 Peter 5:5-6
Worship Resource
Danny Gokey: We All Need Jesus
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