IMITATING CHRIST'S HUMILITY

Imitating Christ’s Humility

Last weekend our youth had DNOW and the theme of the weekend was Imitate U. The theme passage that was used for the weekend was 1 Corinthians 11:1 where Paul tells the Corinthians to “imitate me as I imitate Christ.” Wow what a statement! This proclamation came from Paul once known as Saul the Persecutor. Paul describes himself in Philippians 3:5-6 as “circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews: in regard to the law, a Pharisee; as for zeal, persecuting the church, as for legalistic righteousness, faultless.” Even with such an incredible pedigree, Paul was not talking about imitating his zealous, legalistic righteousness. Instead, Paul was focusing his readers in on being imitators of Christ. Instead of being arrogant and proud, Jesus Christ was the supreme example of humility. Is it just me or is that sometimes a very hard thing to imitate? We are too often like Paul in his before Christ days: arrogant, proud, boastful and full of ourselves. Too many times we as human beings are singing the song “It’s All About Me”. If we are truly to be imitators of Christ we must “take the very nature of a servant” (Phil. 2:7). We should always think of the needs of others before we consider of own needs. Jesus was the supreme example of this as he “humbled himself and became obedient to death – even death on the cross” (Phil. 2:8)
Last week we looked at how the believer must love in order to have the power to understand the depth of Christ’s love. I think Paul is continuing that theme here in Philippians 2 by going even deeper into what loving really means. That self-sacrificing love tells us to put aside our desires and to take on the burden of servant hood as Christ did by “making himself nothing.” (Phil. 2:7) As you do this you will “shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life.” (Phil. 2:15b-16a) This means that as you make yourself nothing, Christ will make you shine for His glory and He will get all the credit. So as we serve here at First Baptist Canton, let us serve the church and as we serve them, God will be glorified.
Soli Deo Gloria! To God be Glory!
Aaron Hodges