Humility and the Christmas Story

The third skill to master in developing your greatness is humility.  Powerful people who lack humility become nothing more than egotistical bullies and self-indulgent narcissists.  Their value to the world is crippled by the dominance of their ego.  They believe the illusion that everything is all about them.

The Christmas story shows the amazing power and love in humility.  People too quickly dismiss the story of the birth of Jesus as irrelevant when it is the most fantastic and amazing story in human history.

The Apostle Paul wrote about Jesus:

“Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.  And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death-even death on a cross!”

Imagine, you are the invisible, eternal, immortal God of creation and you let it all go to become a human being, someone who is hungry, thirsty, tired, frightened, lonely, and sad.  And, now as a man, you submit your will to that of your Heavenly Father in everything, even to suffering a torturous and humiliating death of being nailed to a cross!

Who would do such a thing?  Who would give up so much?  Who would be so obedient and subjugate their own desires so completely?

Not me. I will tell you that in an instant.  I am not so great.  How about you?  Perhaps you are willing to put your partner’s needs above your own, or your children’s best interest.  But, what about your neighbors…or strangers…or God’s will?

The Apostle went on to write:

“Therefore, God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Chris is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”  Phil 2:6-11

Jesus’ humility wasn’t lost on his Heavenly Father.  He demonstrated the character God intended every one of us to have.  But he did something even greater.  Christmas is the story of the Son of God coming to pay the price of disobedience that we owe.  It was the only way we could be forgiven our debt and be reconnected with God.

For that, God exalted his Son to the highest place.  This part of the story has not yet been fully realized.  Just because it hasn’t doesn’t mean it isn’t true.  We might look to the day with everyone will know Jesus for who he is and what he did for you and for me that Christmas day.

And may you and I grow in humility.  Merry Christmas.