What A Great Example Of Humility!

It is very easy to feel proud. If we get a prize at school, or if we get a promotion at work — we get a boost by such things and we can become a bit conceited. But one of the great challenges for us as Christian people is to have a consistent humble life before God and other people. John the Baptist is a great example for us. He was said by Jesus to have been the greatest of the prophets, yet John said "He must increase but I must decrease" (John 3:30). John was willing to be like a lowly servant carrying Jesus' shoes as long as he could be a faithful preacher and prophet of God's word.

There is a very good reason for every Christian to be a humble Christian. Everything we have comes to us from God — not because we deserve it or have earned it, but because of God's grace. It is all the gift of God. We have nothing to boast about. In Bible times humility was despised. Slaves had to be humble before their masters but free people had to have a different spirit — even a haughty spirit. That is not the Christian way. God's word says, "Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble" (1 Peter 5:4). That was the spirit of John the Baptist, the greatest of all the prophets.

Prayer

Lord, humble me under your mighty hand as I serve you. Amen.