Live the Humble Life
Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom. (James 2:12)
by Reverend Mark Bartsch
Have you set high expectations for yourself? Do you do your best to excel in your chosen occupation? I assume you have set certain goals for your performance as an employer or employee, as a citizen of your town, as a father or mother and as a son or a daughter.
In order to show your value to your employer, will you commit to doing the best work you can?
As a citizen, will you vote in elections as you want your voice to be heard?
As a parent, will you show your children how much you care for them? Will you show them great love and compassion? Will you want them to grow into responsible, well-rounded adults? As children of your parents, will you want to honor them and show them respect? Have you come to realize how much they care for you, and how they want you to succeed?
So many questions, so where does your desire to answer them come from? From the Lord and from His humble love and service to us. Paul wrote to the Philippians: “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus who, being the very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made by himself of nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness and being found in appearance as a man, He humbled himself and became obedient unto death—even death on a cross!” (Philippians 2: 5-8). In other words, you and I could say, “I want to be like Jesus; I want to live like Jesus,” and I want to live the humble life.
In our occupation, in our family life, in all of our interactions with other people, you and I want people to know that Jesus is our motivation in life. When you read the letter of James, he is showing us how we, as Christians, should live our lives in this world.
“Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom.” (James 2:12)
In other words, live your life according to the faith that is in your heart. Our faith will not be quiet. Instead, it will show itself in all kinds of different works and ways. People will know we are Christians by our love, our patience, our compassion and our willing acts of service. Speak and act as Christians who are made free to serve by our faith in our Savior, Jesus Christ and by living the humble life.
PRAYER: Dear Jesus, help us to live our lives of faith in humble ways. Help us to help others in whatever way we possibly can. Strengthen us each day in faith so that our love for you and for others will never grow cold. Not to us, O Lord, but to your name be the glory. Amen.