You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
Ephesians 4:22-24
"The moral project for a Christian is to die to the old self and rise to new life in Christ."
— Rebecca DeYoung
Transformation is about attending to God’s grace.
Transformation is about who we are — not just what we do.
Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.
Proverbs 16:18
Pride: an over-inflated view of oneself
How you have fallen from heaven,
morning star, son of the dawn!
You have been cast down to the earth,
you who once laid low the nations!
You said in your heart,
“I will ascend to the heavens;
I will raise my throne
above the stars of God;
I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly,
on the utmost heights of Mount Zaphon.
I will ascend above the tops of the clouds;
I will make myself like the Most High.”
But you are brought down to the realm of the dead,
to the depths of the pit.
Isaiah 14:12-15
Before a downfall the heart is haughty,
but humility comes before honor.
Proverbs 18:12
When pride comes, then comes disgrace,
but with humility comes wisdom.
Proverbs 11:2
Pride brings a person low,
but the lowly in spirit gain honor.
Proverbs 29:23
God dwells with the contrite and lowly, not the proud.
Isaiah 57:25
God opposes the proud
but shows favor to the humble
James 4:6
All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”
Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.
1 Peter 5:5-6
Bottom Line
Practicing humility involves receiving our identity in Christ.
The key to practicing humility is to know your identity.
The ultimate example of humility is Jesus.
They came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, that man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan—the one you testified about—look, he is baptizing, and everyone is going to him.”
To this John replied, “A person can receive only what is given them from heaven. You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Messiah but am sent ahead of him.’ The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete. He must become greater; I must become less.”
John 3:26-30
Action Steps
Prayer – create some prayerful space to reflect on the following questions:
- Where have I believed the lie that I’m not enough as I am?
- In what areas of my life am I trying to reach or grasp for more?
- What would it look like to receive my identity in Christ rather than try to prove it?
Practice
- Receive before you achieve: begin each day by sitting quietly and receiving Jesus’ love
- Choose hidden service: do one act of service that no one sees and no one applauds
- Put someone else first: intentionally put someone else’s interests before your own
