Philippians 2:12,13, ‘So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure’.
V5, ‘Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. 8 Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.’
We learn more humility from our Lord Jesus Christ.
Matthew 11:28-30, ‘“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”’
Jesus is inviting us those who are weary and heavy-laden to come to Him and to take His yoke. As long as we seek to fulfill the desires of our flesh, we will be weary and heavy-laden!
In the world, they say that we are not to suppress our feelings but let them out. This is not what the Bible says! The world also says about the body, that there is a limit to how much the body can take, in terms of exercise and body building etc. and the same is also true regarding our soul – in terms of how much we can try to be decent, good and look nice to others. There is a limit to how much we can do, to look right. Only when we reach to the limit of this, we realize that we become weary and heavy-laden and then come to God and ask for help. Jesus is calling everyone those who are weary and heavy-laden, and yet he is offering a burden and a yoke, this yoke is – ‘walking in the path of humility and submitting to God’s will’.
Mark 10:42-45, ‘Calling them to Himself, Jesus *said to them, “You know that those who are recognized as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them; and their great men exercise authority over them. 43 But it is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant; 44 and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be slave of all. 45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”’
Humility is not a ‘phase’ that we go through – ‘that once we went through it, we are more like Jesus and we can be more spiritual’. Lord Jesus, Himself is saying that Jesus did not come to be served but to serve and give His life a ransom for many. Lord Jesus Christ is our perfect example – he never sinned. He did have the struggle with the flesh like us, but He never succumbed to the desires of the flesh. Our Spiritual walk is always a life of humility. We should not feel suppressed but the more we walk with God, we realize that this, surely, is a joyful walk and indeed His yoke is light! Our spiritual walk with God would always be more with deeper and deeper walk in humility!
It is also true that Jesus life was also a life of more and more suffering. Suffering leads us to an intimate and deeper life with God. It draws us to realize, indeed, His yoke is light. His yoke is easy and His burden is light!
John 17:4, ‘I glorified You on the earth, having accomplished the work which You have given Me to do.’
Towards the end of Jesus’ ministry, Jesus says that He glorified the Father on this earth by accomplishing the work which the Father gave Him. This is how Jesus lived, always seeking to do the will of the Father.
We also see what the Father is saying about Jesus, in the beginning of His ministry in,
Matthew 3:17, ‘and behold, a voice out of the heavens said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased.”’
Father is well-pleased with the Lord Jesus Christ even before He started His public ministry – healing the sick, raising the dead, preaching the New-covenant truths. And, in the end, Jesus is saying He accomplished the work which Father gave Him and He glorified the Father on this earth. Father was well-pleased before Jesus started His ministry because Jesus did and then preached what He practiced. We see in Matthew 5-7, what He preached. We realize the life that Jesus lived, before He began His ministry – and the Father was pleased by this.
2 Timothy 2:15, ‘Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.’
This is the command for us also, that we be diligent and present ourselves approved to God as a ‘workman’ who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth. God has chosen us to do the good works appointed for us.
Ephesians 2:8-10, ‘For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.’
We are God’s workmanship. God is working in us. He appointed us for good works, we are created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. God is working in us but we also have our part to do. He also wants us to work along with Him.
‘for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure’.
Romans 6:16, ‘Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness?’
We have a choice – whether to obey, either of sin resulting in death or of obedience – ‘carrying our cross’, resulting in righteousness.
Hebrews 5:8, ‘Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered.’
This is how Jesus lived on this earth -a Life of Humility. Always willing to obey the will of the Father. Although He was in flesh, He never sinned, He learned obedience, from the things He suffered. He suffered and obeyed.
How are we living on this earth? Let us learn humility from the Lord Jesus.
Whenever there is a disagreement or a clash at home, let us always remember this verse and obey it.
Galatians 5:26, ‘Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another.’
V25, ‘If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.’
May God help us to live by the Spirit and walk by the Spirit.
Romans 12:6, ‘Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith; 7if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching; 8or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.’
We all have a gift that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly – each of us have to exercise the gift of encouraging or exhorting one another and loving one another, both in our Church and in our private life, within the families. Let us use this gift liberally!
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, ‘Rejoice always; 17 pray without ceasing; 18 in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.’
Let us work out our salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in us, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.
Amen.
