And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. Luke 2:7
The common Bible skeptic's image of God is one of an angry and prideful old man in the sky with a thunderbolt in hand ready to strike anyone who does not follow His laws or the imaginary "fine-print."
The Bible, however, shows us a different picture of God. All throughout scripture, even from the Old Testament, we see the picture of a loving God who receives a broken people who constantly sin against Him. Moreover, our God is portrayed as the humble servant that came down to earth as man to become the sacrifice of our sins so that many would be saved.
Jesus was not only humble enough to come down in a form completely far from what He deserved, which is the image of an immortal and extremely radiant King; he even came down in the most humble human form - a poor man of low status. He could have come down as a general, emperor, rich ruler or judge, but our Saviour chose to come in the form of a baby born in a stable laid on a manger. If that's not the perfect picture of humility then I don't know what is.
God emphasises over and over again in scripture how important humility is. James 4:6 says, "But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble." God calls us to be humble first and foremost because it is in his nature to be humble.
To act in pride and arrogance goes against the very fabric upon which God's existence is laid. Jesus is humility personified and He calls us to surrender our character and will to Him and allow His Spirit to work in our hearts and make us humble.
God uses circumstances, lessons and sometimes even people to teach us to be humble because humility is more valuable than most of us think. 1 Peter 5:6-7 says, "Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you."
When you think of our Lord, do you often see Him as an arrogant God who is self-absorbed or as a humble servant who has no trouble being brought low most especially for the world that He loves? In response to Jesus' humility, how does His character change yours and make you more humble?
