Let His Humility Be Your Example - by Phyllis Inniss

“He who humbleth himself shall be exalted.” (Luke 15:14)

God could have chosen a palace, a majestic abode, for the birth of His Son, instead of a lowly manger. He could have chosen for His parents those of noble birth, instead of a carpenter and a maiden of no renown. Throughout the Bible we have examples that God wants us to live humble lives. Jesus did not choose the learned and the erudite to follow Him. Nor did He choose the rich and famous. He selected very ordinary fisher folk whom He taught to live selfless lives and advised those who would be great among them to serve their brethren. Before his painful crucifixion, in the Upper Room, He washed the feet of the disciples, enjoining them to do likewise to each other. 

Those of us who purport to be followers of Jesus do not always exhibit humility to others. Some of those who hold high positions in the Church and in society, lord it over those who are in more humble positions than themselves. Their example falls short of the splendour and greatness of God’s teaching. They forget that they are supposed to be serving God and, by extension, humankind and by so doing encourage the unrepentant to Christ. Those to whom much is given, much is expected.

On His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus gave His audience guidance for Christian living. Blessed are the ‘poor in spirit’, ‘they that mourn’, ‘the meek’, etc. (Matt.5:3-11). There is no circumstance for the proud and arrogant to be blessed, except he be converted. James 4:6 & 10 says, “God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.” and “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord and He shall lift you up.”

Phyllis is a freelance Christian writer who has published two books with a third on the way. Contact