Under the Wings of God by Cornelius PlantingaSample

Day Five: Clothe Yourselves with Humility

Scripture: Luke 14:11, Colossians 2:18, 23, 3:1,12

In Colossians 2:18 and 23, Paul twice warns against what he calls “false humility.” False humility is part of the old life and part of the old self. False humility is a mask we wear in public, while we do our real thinking behind the mask. So, when we reach for humility, we ought to take a look at it and make sure it’s the real thing.

And what is real humility? The first thing to say is that humility in Scripture is a species of wisdom. Wisdom is the ability to know God’s world and then to fit ourselves into it. Think of it like this: the word “humility” comes from the same root as the Latin humus, which means “earth.” Humility is a kind of down-to-earth-ness. A humble person sees reality at the ground level—and recognizes his own place within it. Humble people don’t pretend to be more than they are.

Humility is a kind of wisdom that lets us deal with reality, not fantasy. The humble person knows God is her superior, and she lets God be God. The humble person is glad and ready to acknowledge other human beings as her equals, her colleagues, her fellow travelers, and she takes a hearty interest in them and in their lives.

By contrast, the proud person traps himself in unreality. He’s conceited, so he thinks more highly of himself than he ought to think. He’s out of touch with reality because his view of himself is out of whack, out of line, out to lunch. It’s unrealistic because it doesn’t allow that others are his equals, his peers, his brothers and sisters.

The first step in humility is to die with Christ by owning up to what’s wrong with us. It’s painful, but when we do, we receive God’s grace which lifts and stretches us toward God. We rise to the full stature of the sons and daughters of God, and we walk out into the world like Jesus walking out of his tomb.

“Since you have been raised with Christ, clothe yourselves with humility” (Colossians 3:1, 12). Humility fits people who have been raised with Christ. Humility is part of the family uniform of the people of God.

Since Jesus emptied Himself and took the form of man because of His love for you (Philippians 2:7), a sinner needing rescue, how might you humble yourself and love those around you? Prayer: O Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me, a sinner, and grant me your peace. Amen.