Imitating Christ's Humility

Philippians 2:1-11 (NIV).
1 If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion,2 then make my joy complete by being like‑minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7 but made himself nothing, Taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death– even death on a cross!  9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

What a great church service we had at Preston Salvation Army on Sunday.

I found the subject of "Humility - A Kingdom Value" very challenging, and again, a much needed reminder for today and for my daily walk in this journey of life.

I read the above passage and highlighted verse 4 and 5.  Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:

The band played the simple Chorus Arrangement of Lord Make Me Like You, which highlights that others are more important than ourselves.  It's not easy to sing - "O Lord I am willing, Do what you must do", but I think we need to seriously consider what we as Christians (Salvo's) portray in our lives - not just on Sunday's, but the rest of the week too.

Lord make me like you,
Please make me like you.
You are a servant, make me one too.
O Lord I am willing,
Do what you must do,
To make me like you Lord,
Please make me like you.

I wrote down a quote which I'd never heard of before;
"Being humble is not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less"

How great is that! 

Being humble and having the mind of Christ are 2 things that are not easy to take on board, but it is certainly 2 areas of my life I'm working on.

I have previously blogged on putting Jesus first, Yourself last and Others in between (J O Y, J O Y) but the thought - to be humble whilst doing it - is a timely reminder.

If we are so full of our own self importance, it is near impossible to put others before us, let alone putting God in His rightful place.

My prayer for today:

I am praying, blessed Saviour,
To be more and more like thee;
I am praying that thy spirit
Like a dove may rest on me.

Thou who knowest all my weakness,
Thou who knowest all my care,
While I please each precious promise,
Hear, O hear, and answer prayer!

I am praying to be humbled
By the power of grace divine;
To be clothed upon with meekness
And to have no will but thine.

I am praying, blessed Saviour,
And my constant prayer shall be
For a perfect consecration
That shall make me more like thee.
Fanny Crosby (1820-1915)
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