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 2:5-8.
“Lord, humble us gently.” That is one of my friends’ favorite prayer requests. I like it, too. I want to be humbled, but not humiliated. Thank God, however, Jesus was willing to be humbled but not gently humbled. He humbled himself and became obedient to death — even death on a cross! He was willing to be humiliated to save us! I hate that he went through such agony. I grieve that his self-emptying humility was stark, brutal, drastic, humiliating, and outrageous. Jesus’ self-sacrificing love challenges me to have the same attitude as he had! Jesus’ example challenges me to examine what I am willing to give up and endure to forgive those who have wounded me. I am humbled by Jesus’ love for me, so I ask myself what I am willing to do to serve and reach others who are lost.