Gospel Humility

Yesterday we looked at a wonderfully rich theological passage in   Philippians 2:5-8.  But the Holy Spirit's main point in directing Paul to pen these words is intensely practical.  Theology is always practical - never boring.   If Christ, the second person of the triune God humbled himself to death on a cross, how in the world can we demonstrate pride in our relationships within the body of Christ.   The distance Jesus traveled in demonstrating His humility (Throne to the tomb) is infinitely  greater than any distance you will  travel to demonstrate humility.  The church is the body of Christ - it is incongruent that we don't voluntarily chose humility.  

I looked up some quotes by some pretty humble men, that God has lifted up for the edification of the body of Christ.   Pray for them and your pastor.   Enjoy!

Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for all his works are right and his ways are just; and those who walk in pride he is able to humble.
Daniel 4:37 (King Nebuchadnezzar)

For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.
Romans 12:3 (The Apostle Paul)

Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
1 Peter 5:5b ( The Apostle Peter)

The Christian gospel is that I am so flawed that Jesus had to die for me, yet I am so loved and valued that Jesus was glad to die for me. This leads to deep humility and deep confidence at the same time. It undermines both swaggering and sniveling. I cannot feel superior to anyone, and yet I have nothing to prove to anyone. I do not think more of myself nor less of myself. Instead, I think of myself less. 
Tim Keller The Reason For God

“Encourage others each and every day–nothing’s more important than our words.
Did you know that, on average, each of us speaks about twenty-five thousand words daily? My last book didn’t have that many words. A lot of language is flowing out of our mouths every day and having an impact on those around us. But how much of that flow is fulfilling God’s intended purpose for our speech? How much of it reflects pride, rather than a gospel-motivated humility?” 
C.J. Mahaney, Humility: True Greatness

Preaching the gospel to myself each day mounts a powerful assault against my pride and serves to establish humility in its place. Nothing suffocates my pride more than daily reminders regarding the glory of my God, the gravity of my sins, and the crucifixion of God’s own Son in my place. Also, the gracious love of God, lavished on me because of Christ’s death, is always humbling to remember, especially when viewed against the backdrop of the Hell I deserve. 
Milton Vincent A Gospel Primer

““The really wonderful moments of joy in this world are not the moments of self-satisfaction, but self-forgetfulness. Standing on the edge of the Grand Canyon and contemplating your own greatness is pathological. At such moments we are made for a magnificent joy that comes from outside ourselves.” 
John Piper, Don't Waste Your Life