Jesus: A Gift of Humility

JESUS: A GIFT OF HUMILITY

“He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.” 

(Luke 2:5-7)

            Oftentimes we’re attracted by things that glitter. That’s what stands out when we look at Christmas presents. So much so, we often overlook that which is meek, yet mighty. It’s important for us to remember that the first Christmas gift came wrapped quite simply in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger. God came to this earth to a peasant people and spent His first night on earth in an obscure village. Most kings are on a throne in a palace, but not that first Christmas. Jesus was born in a stable and He ruled from an animal’s feeding trough.

            We tend to focus our attention at Christmas on the infancy of Christ and yet, the greater miracle is the fact that He’s God at the same time. “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped.” (Philippians 2:5-6) You see, He was equal with God; Jesus wasn’t vice-president. He wasn’t the associate. He was equal with God. The verse goes on to say that He humbled Himself and became obedient to death. Even though it’s years later, it’s tough for us to look at a manger without looking ahead to see a wooden cross because that’s why Jesus came in the first place.

Jesus was born in a manger but came to bear the cross. Not only did He enter this life in humility, but He lived, died, and arose with humility. The Bible calls us to humility as well in 1 Peter 5:5c “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” We are most like Christ when we humble ourselves before God. A life of obedience is truly a life of humility. Dr. Glen Martin is Pastor of Journey of Faith in California and has been a speaker at America’s Keswick. Today’s devotional is from Real Victory for Real Life – our Keswick Devotional

GPS – God’s Positioning System: Hebrews 7-10; Psalm 142; Proverbs 22

Compass Pointers: Christ veiled His deity but He did not void it!

Navigation Rules to Memorize: Level 1:John 17:3; Level 2: John 17:1-5

Anchored to the Rock: The power of prayer consists in the knowledge of God. Friedrich Tholuck