What God values most is the character of the heart of people, not their external image. Jesus' power is not just power to see external change, but also to bring internal change in us. One of the things Jesus grows in us is humility because a revelation of Christ and His grace humbles us as we become accustomed to trusting in Him and not in ourselves for salvation, enablement and empowerment.
Philippians 2:5-7 tells us of the humility that Christ most specially portrayed for us to follow: "Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men."
A revelation of Christ brings more humility than pride, and to reject Him is to reject a powerful, character-building and humbling revelation that could mould us to become the people that God has called us to be. Here are three ways that we reject God's work of building humility in us.
Rejecting His grace
James 4:6 tells us, "But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble." Grace will always humble, not entitle. Grace tells us that because we are too sinful and unrighteous to earn God's favour and grace, Jesus made a way for us to experience liberty from sin so that we would be able to freely approach God. If that won't humble anyone then I don't know what will.
Not submitting to authority
Whether it's the authority of Jesus or the authority of leaders that God assigns for us, we are called to submit. Most people always want to be in control, but if we cannot trust the capacity of others - moreover the capacity of God - our hearts will only build up pride instead of humility. Romans 13:1 says, "Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God."
Running away from testing
If there's anything that could be most humbling, it's the trials and testings that God brings us through. God shows us this through the time He caused the nation of Israel to wander in the desert under Moses' leadership. Deuteronomy 8:2 says, "And you shall remember the whole way that the Lord your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not."
Trials humble us because they show that, left to ourselves, we cannot face these trials, let alone conquer them. But when we humbly put our hope in Jesus Christ alone for the victory, we will see Him move for us.
