Imitating Christ’s Humility
Scripture
Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
7 rather, he made himself nothing
by taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
8 And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:1–11).
Reflection
Have you ever looked up to someone as a role model? Maybe you respect a well-known celebrity or the CEO of a successful company. Perhaps you look up to a family member or friend. When we admire people, we often like to imitate them. Fans of celebrities copy their fashion or mannerisms; sports fans wear sneakers they see their heroes wearing. Men and women often speak of the ways their parents influenced their work ethic or their interests. My father was a composer, and he inspired me to write songs for God’s glory. When I saw his talent on the piano, I wanted to imitate him more and more.
Paul urged the believers in Philippi to imitate Christ. Isaiah prophesied that Jesus would have no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him…he would be despised and rejected (Isaiah 53:1–3). Paul reminded the Philippians that Jesus made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant…he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross (v.7). Those qualities (and experiences) are hardly ones the world looks for to emulate!
But in his great love for us, the eternal God gave up heaven and, in humility, came here to do what humankind could not do for itself. Jesus’ suffering and death purchased redemption for all those who would believe in him. Even now, as he is exalted in the highest place, he is interceding for us and preparing us a place. How do believers imitate this? Paul wrote that we are to have Christ’s mindset. When we serve others out of love in humility and sacrificial obedience, we see the mind of Christ dwelling richly in us (Colossians 3:16).
In this season of Lent, take time to reflect on Jesus’ love for you, on the humility and suffering he was willing to experience for your sake. Take time to assess your walk of faith with him. Might there be things you should give up or put down—or take on—for the sake of others? Are there new ways for you consider serving others who need help for what they cannot do themselves? Are you willing to go wherever God calls you, do whatever he asks of you, whatever the cost?
Prayer
Lord Jesus, thank you for your sacrificial love for us. We confess that we tend to be self-seeking at times and lacking in humility. Help us to imitate you—help us to desire what you desire, to obediently serve you as the Holy Spirit prompts us, looking to the needs of others above our own. We want to have your mindset in all that we say and do, all for your glory. Amen.
2024 Lenten Journey
Adrian Brown