Bible Verse of the Day Sunday July 23rd, 2023

Philippians 2:5-8 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ 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!

The Apostle Paul teaches us in this scripture verse that we should model our interactions with others after Christ Jesus. When Jesus went to the Cross, he displayed the ultimate in a sacrificial mindset. Jesus considered no sacrifice too excessive, no bodily pain too excruciating, and no humiliation too degrading. Jesus was willing to suffer the most excessive pain known to humankind on that day, the Roman Crucifixion, and shameful humiliation as he moved from His deity into his humanity. We should always desire to maintain a humble lifestyle and attitude. In talking to other people, we should not focus our conversation on ourselves, on any good works or deeds we have accomplished. Since Christ Jesus esteemed the sacrifice of a humble attitude for the well-being of others, shouldn't we, in attempting to have the same mindset as Jesus, follow suit?

There was once a church, realizing the value and worth of humility, formed a committee to find the humblest person in the church. They asked the congregation to submit names, and several came to the forefront. After months of deliberation, they all agreed on this one brother who had always taken backstage and never accepted credit for anything he had accomplished. There was a ceremony at the Sunday worship service where the church awarded him a "most humble person button" However, the following day, they had to take it back from him because he pinned it on himself. 

Many folks hold to the premise that humility is the opposite of pride while the other side of pride is a lack of self-esteem. A genuine Godly humble individual can recognize themselves as a part of the plans of God but does not accept the credit and gives the glory to God. In our walk with Christ Jesus, we should not feel abased or despised, and we should not feel elevated or blotted. Humility is not plunging ourselves out before everyone else or relegating ourselves to the back; it is forgetting ourselves and putting others forward and upward.

Leonard Bernstein, the infamous orchestra conductor, was once asked, "What is the most problematic instrument to play?" He said, "That would be the second fiddle. I can find loads of first violinists, but finding one who plays second violin with as much enthusiasm is more of a problem. However, if no one plays second, there will be a lack of harmony."