As
Christians, we are called to follow Christ as our example since we are created
in the image of God (Imago Dei).
Throughout the life of Christ, He has shown many excellent characters. One of
the most important and clear example of Christ is His character of humility. When
we are humble, God will lift and exalt us just like how God exalts Christ
highly after His death on the cross. However, God never forces us to follow His
way and always gave us our freedom to choose our way of life, but all our
choices have consequences to follow.
Many
people in the modern world today would rather choose to follow the way of Satan
of being prideful rather than the humble way of Jesus. People today think that they
are great and often brag about it; moreover, they feel that they deserve
praise. Those people don’t realize that everything that they have has been
given to them especially by God; therefore, God can and most probably will take
it all away anytime He wants. Luke 14:11 says that everyone who exalts himself
will be humbled. Many people don’t want to go through the process of humility,
but want a quick fame through pride which is the way of Satan. Isaiah 14 shows
how Satan who exalts himself was brought down to hell.
On
the other hand, Jesus teaches us to follow His steps of being humble and
letting God lift us up. Philippians 2 says that though Jesus is the form of
God, He showed humility being in the form of a servant; moreover, as a sinner
who was crucified. Because Jesus humbled Himself, God exalted him highly. To
follow Jesus, we must deny ourselves and carry the cross of humility together
with Jesus, then as Jesus rise from the dead and be exalted, we will also rise
with Him according to God’s purpose. Luke 14:11 also says that he who humbles
himself will be exalted. Few years ago, every time I have successfully
accomplished something, I always expect praises from people and feeling pride,
but no one ever praises me. After I realize that I’m prideful, I apologize to
God and every time I have successfully accomplished something, I always tell
God that all the praise and thanks goes to you. Since then, I have received
many compliments from other people and God even allows me to expand my skills
and talents with so many opportunities.
People
should follow Christ as their example and practice humility. To follow Christ,
we should first leave all our pride behind realizing that we are just a servant
of God and have nothing to be proud of. Everything that we have is freely given
by God and that we are not able to live without God the provider. I personally
was very prideful with many talents in many different areas; furthermore, I can
solve almost all my problems myself without anyone’s help. As I trace my skills
and talents, I found out that I’m smart because God is the one who bless me
with parents that could educate me and have enough money for me to go to
school. I could play music instruments well because God also provides my
parents who were also able to pay for my music lessons and a talented teacher
who can guide me well. To practice further humility, I should reach to the poor
and bless them freely since God has also blessed me freely.
As a
conclusion, we as Christians are called to follow Jesus as an example for their
life since we were created in the image of God. Throughout His life, Jesus
shows how He practiced the character of humility and become exalted by God
after His death on the cross. We should therefore practice the character of
humility by being humble and carrying our cross with Jesus together by denying
ourselves and letting go of all our pride so that as Christ rise form the dead
and become exalted, we will also rise with Him lifted by God. However, God
never forces us to follow His way and gave us the freedom to choose whether to
follow His humble way or the prideful way of Satan. In the world today, many
people have been very prideful thinking that they are someone great, but indeed
everything we have is freely given by God; therefore, God is able to take
everything away in a blink of an eye. Luke 14:11 says that for everyone who
exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.