A Day-by-day devotional

April 2, 2023

Humility

Chronological One Year Bible Reading Plan: Judges 19-21

Scripture of the Day: Matthew 21:1-11

Sometimes we think that if we belittle ourselves, we are actually being humble. If you are asked to sing at a party, you might probably say, “No. I can’t sing.” Or, “No. My voice is out of tune and pitch.” Or worse, “No. I have an ugly voice. I sound like a frog!”. But then when your friends finally convinced you to sing, you actually have a lovely voice!

Well, it can be two things. First, maybe you haven’t realized yet how beautiful your voice is and you aren’t aware of it. Or second, you do know you have a good voice and can actually more than carry a tune, but you feel shy and refuse to admit it since you do not want to be thought of as a show-off. You don’t want to brag. You would rather be humble.

However, true humility is not like that. It is having a modest view of one’s self, but it does not bring self down. True humility is freedom from pride and arrogance. It thinks less of self, and more of others.

If we want to be truly humble, we shouldn’t look to any other than Jesus. Being God, He came to the world to dwell with us as a man. Ultimately, He so humbled Himself to the point of choosing to die a humiliating death on the cross. For our sake.

Today, we celebrate this year’s Palm Sunday. It marks the beginning of a week long celebration and commemoration of Christ’s passion and death. It starts with His entrance to Jerusalem, where the people waved branches of palm trees. This act is done in those times to honor the leaders of society, like a king or emperor. Also, soldiers who returned from the battlefield are welcomed this way. They were the perfect symbol for a victorious hero.

What is striking in the story, however, is that, instead of riding a gallant and mighty horse, Jesus chose to ride on a donkey. It is a beast of burden, used to carry load and trade. Nonetheless, it does not hold its head high and mighty. It is subservient and has an attitude for service. So, Jesus chose it to be His companion as He makes His entry into Jerusalem, where He would start His journey to the fulfillment of His saving humanity through the cross.

Can you imagine the Son of God, the King of kings, the Lord of lords, the Maker of heaven and earth, taking the form of a human being to die for the sake of man? That, is ultimate humility.

Reflection: Do not be deceived by pride in the guise of humility. Godly humility is the opposite of pride, but it is never having a low estimate of one’s self. Thinking of one’s self as insignificant is not true humility.

Moses is believed to be the writer of the book of Numbers. In it, it is written: “Now Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth.” (Numbers 13:3) If Moses wrote the book and he truly was the humblest man on earth, doesn’t that sound like bragging? Knowing one’s worth in Christ isn’t bragging as much as putting one’s self down isn’t true humility.

Prayer: Lord, it is my prayer that you humble me. Silence my pride and allow me to see my worth in you, without thinking of me as higher than anybody else. Amen.