Humble Yourself

Posted by jerrywhite on May 16, 2013

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you.

1 Peter 5:6

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“The blessed Lord Jesus took the very lowest place; but God has given Him the very highest. He made Himself nothing, but God has made Him everything. He said, ‘I am a worm and no man’; but God has set Him as Head over all. He went into the very dust of death; but God has placed Him on the throne of the Majesty in the heavens.

What does all this teach us? It teaches us that the way to go up is to go down. This is a grand lesson, and one which we very much need to learn. It would effectually deliver us from envy and jealousy, from strife and vain glory, from self-importance and self-occupation. God will assuredly exalt those who, in the spirit and mind of Christ, take the low place; and, on the other hand, He will, as assuredly, abase those who seek to be somebody.

Oh! To be nothing! This is true liberty—true happiness—true moral elevation. And then what intense power of attraction in one who makes nothing of himself! And, on the other hand, how repulsive is a pushing, forward, elbowing, self-exalting spirit! How utterly unworthy of one bearing the name of Him who made Himself of no reputation! May we set it down as a fixed truth that ambition cannot possibly live in the presence of One who emptied himself? No doubt. An ambitious Christian is a flagrant contradiction.”

C. H. MacKintosh

His Victorious Indwelling, 132-133

Nick Harrison, Editor

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The Bible (God) commands us to humble ourselves. This does not mean that we fake humility by demeaning ourselves to others or pretending we are nothing. Humility comes from a sober estimate of sinful self before holy, Almighty God. A proper view of self and a true view of Him in His majesty cause a humble state of mind. We must remain near Him in order for humility to reign in our attitude. Humility is freedom—and like Christ.