The role of a farmer is one of total dependence upon God for the sun and the rain and the growth of the seeds he plants. But this can be a humbling experience for us when we plant seeds for God on our knees. We hardly ever see the full fruit of what we are called to plant. And when we do see fruit in someone’s life, it is usually the result of another’s seed planting. But, in God’s economy, leaning into this kind of humility is worth far more to Him than the pride we might be tempted to feel if we see truckloads of fruit with our name on the side!
Clothe yourselves with humility as you relate to one another, for “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God and at the right time He will lift you up. 1 Peter 5: 5-6
John the Baptist is a beautiful example of someone clothed with humility. Not only did he live humbly in the wilderness wearing sackcloth and eating locusts and honey, but he continued to demonstrate humility even when his ministry was highly successful. And although he was miraculously born to an older cousin of Jesus’s mother only six months before the birth of Jesus, He described himself as the unimportant one sent ahead of Jesus. He testified that Jesus actually existed before him and was the only Son of God. John said he was the voice of preparation, the friend of the groom, and lower than the servant who tied His sandals. He said, “He must increase, but I must decrease.” Eventually John was falsely imprisoned and beheaded.
The ministry of Jesus Christ did increase, as we know. Eventually Jesus humbled Himself and was crucified and buried, but because of His obedience, God exalted Him. Paul explains the humility of Jesus this way:
With humility consider one another as more important than yourselves, not looking out for your own interests, but for the interests of others. Have the same mindset as Jesus Christ, who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used as an advantage. He made Himself nothing by taking the nature of a servant and being born in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross. Therefore God highly exalted Him and gave Him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in the heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2: 3-11
The life and death of Jesus is the highest expression of His service to His Father and to us. And that service had humility at its core.
For us, if we have to try to be humble, is it really humility or just pretending?
I’m sure that pretending is not what God intended. The verse in 1 Peter expresses the key, “Humble yourselves under the mighty power of God.” If you acknowledge the immense power of God at work through Jesus and in your life, how could you not fall on your knees and be humbled? If we constantly compare ourselves to other people, whether they have risen high or live low, we are ripe for trouble in this area.
If our one comparison is God, there will be no room for pride.
What might God be saying to you specifically about serving Him and others with Jesus’ attitude of humility?
Lord Jesus Christ, Your power in my life is awesome, yet gentle. On my knees or on my feet, I follow You and Your example. Remind me often that You made Yourself nothing, for me. I am nothing without You. Amen.
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