Earlier in our Bible study this week, we were reminded that Jesus was born in humble circumstances and that this humility carried through for His entire life. Throughout His life, He focused on serving others, and ultimately, His sole focus was on rescuing humanity from sin. His humility is not something we should merely observe and talk about. His humility serves as an example for us to follow. After all, if our Savior lived with this mindset, we must also carry His attitude of humility, too.
The apostle Paul described Jesus’ humility in Philippians 2. In this passage of Scripture, he wrote, “You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though He was God, He did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, He gave up His divine privileges; He took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When He appeared in human form, He humbled Himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross” (verses 5-7). Indeed, Jesus modeled humility He laid down His own privileges and interests in order to rescue humanity from sin. His life was all about serving. After all, Jesus Himself said in Matthew 20:28, “The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.” This attitude of humility and service in Philippians 2.
One of Jesus’ poignant examples of humility and service that can be found in Scripture is found in John 13, where Jesus shared a last meal with His disciples shortly before His death. Before they ate, Jesus did something that must have shocked His disciples. He took on the role of a hired servant by washing each one of their feet. After He did this, He told them, “Since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you” (verses 14-15).
As followers of Christ, our call is to serve as Jesus did. We are called to set aside our own agendas and interests for the interests of the people around us. We are called to sacrifice to care for and love others. As we live this way, we point them to Jesus, the One who loves them enough to lay down His life to rescue them from sin and death.
Commit to following Jesus’ example of humility and service today. Be on the lookout for opportunities to serve others in humility. Instead of focusing on yourself and your needs, focus on others and their needs. Ask God to help you as you seek to do this.
1Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? 2 Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose.
3 Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. 4 Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.
5 You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.
6 Though he was God,
he did not think of equality with God
as something to cling to.
7 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges;
he took the humble position of a slave
and was born as a human being.
When he appeared in human form,
8 he humbled himself in obedience to God
and died a criminal’s death on a cross.
9 Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor
and gave him the name above all other names,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
12 Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. 13 For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.
14 Do everything without complaining and arguing, 15 so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people. 16 Hold firmly to the word of life; then, on the day of Christ’s return, I will be proud that I did not run the race in vain and that my work was not useless. 17 But I will rejoice even if I lose my life, pouring it out like a liquid offering to God, just like your faithful service is an offering to God. And I want all of you to share that joy. 18 Yes, you should rejoice, and I will share your joy.
19 If the Lord Jesus is willing, I hope to send Timothy to you soon for a visit. Then he can cheer me up by telling me how you are getting along. 20 I have no one else like Timothy, who genuinely cares about your welfare. 21 All the others care only for themselves and not for what matters to Jesus Christ. 22 But you know how Timothy has proved himself. Like a son with his father, he has served with me in preaching the Good News. 23 I hope to send him to you just as soon as I find out what is going to happen to me here. 24 And I have confidence from the Lord that I myself will come to see you soon.
25 Meanwhile, I thought I should send Epaphroditus back to you. He is a true brother, co-worker, and fellow soldier. And he was your messenger to help me in my need. 26 I am sending him because he has been longing to see you, and he was very distressed that you heard he was ill. 27 And he certainly was ill; in fact, he almost died. But God had mercy on him—and also on me, so that I would not have one sorrow after another.
28 So I am all the more anxious to send him back to you, for I know you will be glad to see him, and then I will not be so worried about you. 29 Welcome him in the Lord’s love and with great joy, and give him the honor that people like him deserve. 30 For he risked his life for the work of Christ, and he was at the point of death while doing for me what you couldn’t do from far away.
