Marks of a Disciple 3: Humility

“Humility, the place of entire dependence on God, is, from the very nature of things, the first duty and the highest virtue of the creature, and the root of every virtue.” Michael J. Gorman

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 humiliation of Christ is our model. He emptied Himself and was obedient. His surrender on the cross demonstrates this essential character. Therefore, we must imitate that humility as a disciple of Christ. 

Humility is when we minimize ourselves, even disadvantage ourselves, for the advantage of others. Our eyes go down in front of Christ. When we put on a new self from the beginning of our walk with Christ (Col 3:12-23), exchanging our self-enthroned natural man for surrender to the throne of God and the cross of Christ, humility becomes a quality that seeps into everything.

A man or a woman who wants to be a disciple cannot earn humility, fake humility, or dismiss its importance. The humility that marks a disciple comes from God, who has chosen him, and to whom he has surrendered. It is a heart-attitude of total forgiveness, ahead of an offense, because the disciple knows what it took for Jesus to forgive him. It is a commitment to do no hurt, only do all good (Col 3: 9-10). 

The radical teachings of Jesus the Rabbi require humility of heart. When He preached the Beatitudes, he spoke about taking hard actions. Instead of the successful and the self-righteous, he heaped blessings upon the meek, the peacemakers, the persecuted, and the least. He commanded everyone to bow down, pray for, and love their enemies. He proclaimed that the first shall be last and the last shall be first (Matt 20:16). 

Humble actions can be examined. Be gentle with the harassed salesperson, pray for the driver racing through traffic, be patient with the rush at the post office, and delegate an easy, public role at church. Treat everyone as a significant person. Humility is an essential mark of a disciple of Jesus. 

Jesus Christ, you went to the cross for me and surrendered for my sin. As I surrender to You, teach me to also surrender to your scattered and gathered sheep. I receive Your Spirit. I need Your essence to reflect You, not myself, for Your glory, never for mine. Amen.