Humility

When the ten other disciples heard what James and John had asked, they were indignant. But Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.” [Matthew 20.24-28]

Particularly near the end of His ministry on earth, Jesus said a lot about the first being last and the last being first, the greatest being the least and the least being the greatest, the leader being the servant and the servant being the leader... There is a definite pattern here.

The pattern is simply this: self-abasement. Humility is another good word for it. Jesus never taught His followers to look out for themselves but to always look out for the good of others. Did I say "never" and "always"? Yes, that is exactly what Jesus did - He taught us that any self-preservation, self-seeking, self-love, etc. was not Kingdom-mindedness at all.

As the prime example of humility, Jesus died on a cross - a sinner's death - although He was the sinless and perfect Son of God. He did it for us. He put us before Himself.

Father, I am reminded today just how evil pride, arrogance, and self-seeking are. Help me to categorically reject anything that elevates me over another...