So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. – James 4:7 NLT
The Humility of Christ
Humility sits quietly at the heart of Jesus’ character. The Holy Son of God—at the beginning and through til the end—lowered Himself into humanity. Not begrudgingly or hesitantly. But willingly and gladly, so that we might draw near to our Heavenly Father.
What beauty in this scandalous act of humility.
How can we, as heirs with Christ who have been so delightfully clothed in His righteousness, not diligently seek after this same selflessness? How should we desire to be like Him and yet not in the entirety of who He is?
What Does It Mean to Be Humble?
Many fear humility, for with it comes the possibility of being hurt. Wounded by another's words with no chance to retaliate. Subdued under another’s power apart from an opportunity to prove ourselves stronger.
Yet humility does not inherently bind itself to apathy; nor does it marry the idea of subservience.
Quite the contrary. Humility requires bold, fearless resilience. It elevates another soul—crafted in the very image of the Maker—as a form of worship.
What Does It Mean to Humble Yourself Before God?
And as we so humble ourselves before others, we must humble ourselves before God, exalting the Creator and Sustainer of all things. To bask in His glorious light and embark on a journey of losing ourselves in His presence.
What Does It Mean to Resist the Devil and He Will Flee From You?
It’s in this endeavor that we learn the power behind resisting the devil. Not because we’ve mustered up our own courage to drive him back, but because he cowers in fear at the sight of his shared Creator.
The devil will never take flight from a mere human. But he will never dare to raise arms against the One who both creates and destroys.
Entrust your heart to the Lord and resist the enemy. In these two acts you can be certain that the former will draw near as the latter flees.
