RADICAL THINKING

October 8

Bible Reading: Acts 20:17-38

Acts 20:18-19, “You yourselves know how I lived among you the whole time from the first day that I set foot in Asia, serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials.”

Though not much esteemed in the world, humility is a virtue much esteemed by God. The concept was so foreign to the Romans and Greeks that they lacked a word for it. Then Christ came along.  Humility means to think with lowliness of mind—not to think poorly of ourselves, but to recognize our neediness in light of God’s holiness (Romans 12:3).

Humility does not come naturally. From birth, we are inclined toward a “me, myself, and I” mentality. While sin manifests in various forms (1 John 2:16), pride lies at its root (Proverbs 6:16-17).  Like a cherished treasure, pride is not easily pried from our hearts.  It is only by a work of the Spirit that eyes are opened to God’s glory and our own shortcomings in sin.

The Divine Son of God left the glory of heaven to enter our broken world without fanfare. Born in a manger and living as a humble servant, He had no place to lay His head (Luke 9:58). He gave everything, ultimately humbling Himself to the point of death on a cross (Philippians 2:8). He came to save us from sin and pride, allowing us to relate rightly to God and others (Philippians 2:3-5).

Christ saved and transformed Paul and made him to be, apart from Christ, the most accomplished figure in church history.  Paul undertook three missionary journeys, establishing numerous churches and authoring epistles that make up much of the New Testament. His writings have inspired countless believers throughout history, and he endured immense suffering for the gospel.

Yet Paul saw himself differently, maintaining a humble perspective.  He said, “I am the foremost of sinners” and “the least of the apostles” (1 Timothy 1:15, 1 Corinthians 15:9). Emulating Christ’s humility, he consistently prioritized the needs of others (Philippians 1:21-24, 2:17) and even declared, “I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls” (2 Corinthians 12:15). He urged the elders of Ephesus to likewise serve with humility, imitating Christ as he himself had (1 Corinthians 11:1).

While the world promotes pride and self-love, Christ lived according to a radically different mindset.  It is the work of the Spirit to renew our minds so that we might put things in the right perspective.  Though society may not value humility, God does, calling us to walk the path of true humility, the greatest treasure in the eyes of God.

“Christian humility flourishes in the human soul when we are standing in front of a window that looks onto the Himalayas of Christ’s grandeur.”—Tim Keller

I GAVE MY LIFE FOR THEE
I gave My life for thee,
My precious blood I shed,
That thou mightst ransomed be,
And quickened from the dead;
I gave, I gave My life for thee,
What hast thou done for Me?
I gave, I gave My life for thee,
What hast thou done for Me?

My Father’s house of light,
My glory-circled throne
I left for earthly night,
For wanderings sad and lone;
I left, I left it all for thee,
Hast thou left aught for Me?
I left, I left it all for thee,
Hast thou left aught for Me?

I suffered much for thee,
More than thy tongue can tell,
Of bitterest agony,
To rescue thee from hell;
I’ve borne, I’ve borne it all for thee,
What hast thou borne for Me?
I’ve borne, I’ve borne it all for thee,
What hast thou borne for Me?

And I have brought to thee,
Down from My home above,
Salvation full and free,
My pardon and My love;
I bring, I bring rich gifts to thee,
What hast thou brought to Me?
I bring, I bring rich gifts to thee,
What hast thou brought to Me?