Articles
Imitating Christ’s Humility
One of the things I love about the Bible is how it shows God’s people as real people in all
their imperfections. I find myself better able to relate to them because of the Bible’s honest
portrayal. One sad theme we read about in several of the books in the New Testament is conflict
within the church. Many of the problems that are found in the world are often brought into the
church. People are human and we struggle with the ideas that we have been taught from the
world and our own selfish desires, often looking down on the very people that we should be
helping. This is why we see reminders like the one by Paul to the church in Philippi. Paul
encourages us to live up to the example that is Christ Jesus.
“Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort
from His love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make
my joy complete by being like- minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one
mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above
yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In
your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very
nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to His own advantage;
rather, He made Himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human
likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Him- self by becoming obedient
to death —even death on a cross” (Philippians 2:1- 8 NIV)!
Paul called for unity in love. Jesus was willing to come to this Earth as a humble servant,
obedient to God in every way. We are called to do the same. To truly love God is to imitate Jesus
Christ. ~Brad Tolbert
