2022 Lent Devotional – Day 4

Humility: A supreme virtue to be Christ-like (Philippians 2:6-8)

We in the church often put emphasis on what a person can do rather than what a person should be. In Christian life, Christ-like character is the most important element that determines the trajectory of our talents and influence.

One of the most significant aspects of Christ-like character is humility. Perhaps God accentuates it more than any other character trait in the Scriptures, except love. It is the most underrated trait but possibly the greatest indicator of how persons will fare through their life.

In the Old Testament, we see that Moses’ humility was so influential that even God took note when he walked in it. 

Now Moses was a very humble man, humbler than anyone else on the face of the earth. (Numbers 12:3)

It’s an integral part of moral leadership. If we are lacking in humility, we are less likely to recognize the potential for errors or mistakes in our decisions.

Jesus is the ultimate example of humility. We learn from Paul in Philippians 2:5-8 (MSG), “Think of yourselves the way Christ Jesus thought of himself. He had equal status with God but didn’t think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what. Not at all. When the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human! Having become human, he stayed human. It was an incredibly humbling process. He didn’t claim special privileges. Instead, he lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death—and the worst kind of death at that—a crucifixion.”

Thanks be to God for Christ’s humility, without which we could not be saved.

Humility is the perfect antidote to our self-focused era and has nothing to do with weakness. It is an attitude of spiritual realization that comes from understanding our place in the order of things that are larger than ourselves. 

True humility comes out of a healthy Christ-centeredness from within the heart of a person that raises our awareness about self-dignity, self-respect, and assurance of our place as a child of God and our call in the Kingdom of God (John 3:30). It is the result of a person responding to God and to the realities of life with discernment from the experiences of life.

Sincere humility takes time to develop, and it’s not something that happens overnight, but it can be achieved through diligence and faith. It enables viewing ourselves in the proper manner regarding our gifts, abilities, purpose, weaknesses and limitations. It is worth the effort!

Mr. Surender Pokhal