Your Faith Journey 127

Posted on May 2, 2021 in Blog |

Are you actively striving to climb the ladder of success? Henri Nouwen reminds us in Letters to Marc About Jesus, that “Jesus chose the descending way.” Henri also wrote, “Even though Jesus was without sin, he began his public life by joining the ranks of sinners who were being baptized by John in the Jordan.” The beginning of Jesus’ ministry reveals part of his descent, but to understand the full descent, we must study his crucifixion. The apostle Paul explains this descending way of humility within the life of Jesus in his letter to the Christians in Philippi:

Though he was God,

he did not think of equality with God

as something to cling to.

Instead, he gave up his divine privileges;

he took the humble position of a slave

and was born as a human being.

When he appeared in human form,

he humbled himself in obedience to God

and died a criminal’s death on a cross.

– Philippians 2:6-8 NLT

Are you willing to give up your privileges for the benefit of others? Christ did. Are you willing to humbly serve others? Jesus did. Are you willing to humbly obey God even if that means denying your own will and desires? Christ did. Are you willing to lose your life for Jesus Christ? He willingly died for you.

The apostle Paul instructs us that we “must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had” (Philippians 2:5 NLT). When our attitude becomes the same as Christ, we’ll be able to follow Jesus’ example and “give up” our privileges, or leverage them, for the benefit of others, position ourselves as the servants of God who serve others no matter who they are, and become obedient to Christ by sacrificing our own will and desires as the Spirit of the living God leads us to live the virtue of humility.

Throughout 2021, you are invited to focus on living with Jesus at the center of your life. To help us with Living Consistent with Christ, we are continuing our new message series connected to Henri Nouwen’s book, Letters to Marc About Jesus. This weekly Your Faith Journey devotional is connected with the series worship service messages and some of the content of Henri’s book.

*If you would like to read the book Letters to Marc About Jesus during our sermon series, you can purchase it through Amazon.com, ChristianBook.com, or Cokesbury.com.

Sunday (5/2)

This week you are invited to read part of the hymn “Lord, Whose Love Through Humble Service” to begin your devotional time with God each day, then read the daily Bible verses, and conclude your time praying the “A Christian Prayer for the Virtue of Humility” below, or a prayer of your own, to help you live the virtue of humility, just as Jesus lived it.

Hymn: “Lord, Whose Love Through Humble Service” by Albert F. Bayly (UM Hymnal 581)

Lord, whose love through humble service

bore the weight of human need,

who upon the cross, forsaken,

offered mercy’s perfect deed:

we, your servants, bring the worship

not of voice alone, but heart,

consecrating to your purpose

every gift that you impart.

Called by worship to your service,

forth in your dear name we go

to the children, the youth, the aged,

love in living deeds to show;

hope and health, good will and comfort, counsel, aid,

and peace we give,

that your servants, Lord, in freedom

may your mercy know, and live.

Prayer: “A Christian Prayer for the Virtue of Humility” – Author Unknown

Lord Jesus, when you walked the earth,

your humility obscured your Kingship.

Your meekness confused the arrogant,

hindering them from grasping your purpose,

your nobleness attending to the destitute.

Teach me to model after your eminence,

to subject my human nature to humility.

Grant me with a natural inclination

to never view myself greater than anyone.

Banish all lingering sparks of self-importance

that could elevate me greater than you.

Let my heart always imitate your humility.

Monday (5/3)