All of you clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because ‘God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.‘ –1 Peter 5:5 CSB
True humility is a delicate line to walk. Pride often tells us to either think too highly of ourselves OR think too negatively of ourselves. Both extremes place our self-esteem on the throne of our lives instead of keeping God there where He belongs. In other words, we keep looking at ourselves either in self-love or self-disgust when our eyes should instead be firmly locked on Jesus.
As author C.S. Lewis points out, a truly humble person “will not be thinking about humility: he will not be thinking about himself at all.”
How can we practically defeat pride? Let’s look to Jesus as the prime example of humility.
In Philippians, Paul says, “In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.” (Philippians 2:5-7 NLT)
Author Preston Perry sums this up well: “Humility is not someone merely knowing their place. It is someone recognizing that they have certain rights and privileges and being willing to give them up to serve someone else.” —Preston Perry
Lord, help me grow in humility. I want to imitate Jesus in everything I do. Thank you for your humility that led you to the cross, and for setting that perfect example of service. May I serve those around me in true humility like you have served me. Amen.
