Imitating Christ – Humbling Ourselves Like Christ

Of the good things God requires of his children, we do only a little; we take only those teachings of the Bible that our finite minds perceive as necessary. The call to walk humbly with God, to clothe ourselves inwardly with humility, is a message found throughout the Bible, from Genesis to Revelation.

But our beloved Jesus repeated it again and again. To imitate Christ is to clothe ourselves with humility and gentleness: “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Mt 11:29).

The world is haughty by nature. Pride and arrogance are such common traits among people that when you meet a humble person, it almost seems as though you are speaking with someone from another planet. I know one. His name is Miguel. His family abandoned him, and he was left alone with only the company of the one he said was his Savior. From time to time, his home became a shelter for poor people and homeless elderly wanderers who came in seeking bread and refuge and eventually left preaching Christ. He offered his house to an association so that a church could be built there. They wanted to give him money, but he preferred to donate it and go live somewhere else. He visited his house, now a church…as a servant. He gave away a good portion of his belongings to people who visited the church. His kindness knows no bounds.

Miguel can visit a couple of sick people every day and keep track of everyone who says they have problems. He was warned several times at work for preaching the gospel, but God, in his grace and sovereignty, gave him the satisfaction of seeing all 6 people in his department converted to Christ. His department was dubbed “the church,” and Miguel was mockingly given the nickname “Messiah.” The story is much longer, but eventually Miguel “was transferred” to another workplace of lower standing “because of the needs” of his company. He continues to be warned and transferred, but Christ has given him the joy of founding other “churches” wherever they send him, with astonishing humility and gentleness. He lives humbly, spiritually and materially, with a contentment and joy that are contagious. “He has told you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8).

The Lord requires humility (of us). Jesus is not moved by euphoria or outward displays of emotion unless they come from the Spirit and from a profound brokenness that breaks through the resistance and hardness of heart, so that there, in the contrite (grieved, repentant) heart, he may begin his regenerating work of grace and salvation, giving us the power to extend it to others out of love and fear of God, never out of concealed self-interest. “Do nothing out of selfishness (rivalry) or vain conceit, but with humility let each of you consider others more important than yourselves, looking not to your own interests but rather to the interests of others” (Phil 2:3–4).

The self-humbling that Jesus requires carries with it a profound expression of obedience to everything God requires. To humble oneself is not merely to lower oneself to a position of lesser importance, but to surrender all our pride and arrogance to God so that he may, through obedience to his word, transform them into usefulness and virtue for the benefit of others. The Christian who truly places his life and hope in Christ humbles himself, is obedient, and experiences his own death on the cross. The Lord says: “The reward of humility and the fear of the Lord are riches, honor, and life” (Proverbs 22:4). A simple reminder: the Lord always keeps his promises.

God bless you!