Good Monday morning (4-26-10),

Paul exhorted the Philippians to let Jesus be their example. Our culture has echoed this suggestion in a number of ways, the most well-known being the WWJD movement. Any of us who attend church regularly know, at some level of consciousness, that we need to live as Jesus lived.

Here is a monumental understatement: I find this is easier said than done. Jesus was so many things on so many different levels it is difficult for me to get my mind, much less my heart and my mouth, around the idea of imitating Him.

So when I came upon Paul’s exhortation (Phil. 2:5) I decided to slow down and see what, exactly, he meant by it. What I found surprised me. We all have preconceived ideas about what God is going to tell us regarding any situation. And I thought I might know what Paul meant when he said to follow Jesus’ example.

But God’s perspective, once again, differs dramatically from my own.

This admonition takes place in the midst of a discussion about humility. Naturally, humility is necessary if we are going to regard others as better than and superior to ourselves. If we are going to set our own needs aside to concentrate on the needs of those around us, then it’s going to require some true humility.

It’s perhaps the greatest failing in the human experience…this difficulty putting others before ourselves. Yet it is the greatest proof of God in us, when we manage to build a lifestyle around helping others instead of satisfying our own desires.

Paul defines utter and complete selflessness as that thing Jesus exhibited when He left His place in heaven and came to earth as a mere human. Although Jesus possessed the complete and entire fullness of the Godhead, He never for a moment considered holding onto all that glory and power. He esteemed the needs of a desperate humanity far more important than His own comfort.

Jesus stripped Himself of all His heavenly privileges and dignity so He could become like a man.

If I’m going to let this same attitude work in me, then I have to examine the quality of Jesus’ decision. He didn’t just obey. He actively stripped Himself of His authority, of His rights, of His position…He forcefully ripped Himself from that high and lofty place so that He could come to earth and suffer all the torment and depravity humankind had conceived.

As if that weren’t enough, after He had appeared in human form He abased Himself still further and carried His obedience to the extreme of dying on a cross. Of all the possible deaths, crucifixion was the most cruel and inhumane, the most debased…the most humiliating.

Not the way a King should perish.

Another major understatement: humility is not my favorite word. I find all kinds of excuses to walk way around the concept. I keep trying to figure out how to serve God without submitting to that one thing.

But the truth is that humility, the sort of abandoned humility that Jesus displayed, is the beating heart of Christianity. Imitating Him in this one area is the only thing that will make us Christ-like.

It seems to be such a challenge for us. And yet…oh…look at the end result!

Because Jesus stooped so low God highly exalted Him and freely bestowed on Him the name that is above every name, that in the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and beneath the earth…and every tongue will frankly and openly confess and acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Do I want victory? Humility will take me there. Do I want to overcome? Humility is the only way. Do I want to glorify the Father? Then I must let Jesus be my example. I must tear myself from the glitzy seduction of self-centeredness and worldliness and recognize I am here for one purpose: to be used by the Father to impact other people’s lives.

“Do nothing from factional motives (through contentiousness, strife, selfishness, or for unworthy ends) or prompted by conceit and empty arrogance. Instead, in the true spirit of humility, let each regard the others as better than and superior to himself (thinking more highly of one another than you do of yourselves).” Phil. 2:3

Laurie Gross