Foundations Jan 19, 2011

Wednesday, January 19, 2011
BIBLE IN A YEAR: Nahum 1-3 and Revelation 13

SCRIPTURE READING

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better
than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the
interests of others. 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, but made
himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And
being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death—
even death on a cross! Philippians 2:3-8
 

Jesus’ love for us is expressed through His humility. Understanding Jesus humility inspires
and shows us that we need to ask for the Spirit’s help to live lives full of humility. We are
by nature preoccupied with ourselves and desire to be recognized for our good traits. That
was not true of Jesus, who embraced a position where everyone totally underestimated
Him and His abilities. When they saw Him they saw nothing to distinguish Him. He was
totally ordinary in every sense, yet He was God.
God wants to root pride out of our lives and grow the fruit of humility in us. The main form
that pride takes in our lives is when we live our lives in such a way that we don’t need Him.
When we say we are wholehearted Christians yet don’t go to God with all aspects of our
life it is due to pride. When we don’t go to Him with our problems and ask Him about our
decisions we are in essence telling Him that we know better than Him. A prayer-less life is
full of pride.

PRAYER and MEDITATION

1. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you areas where pride has a foothold in your life.
    Confess as necessary.
2. Ask God to teach you to be humble, to put others first, to get your primary identity
    through how He sees you and not how others view you.