Mark Lauterbach at GospelDrivenLife recently posted the following reflection on our self-focused pride and Christ’s self-sacrificial humility. His thoughts lead to conviction, humility, and joy as we behold our Savior. Here are some highlights.
Jesus was humble — he took no thought of himself that he might serve us unto our everlasting redemption from wrath and giving us joy in the face of God. I was first struck with how much I am unlike Jesus.
Who can measure the depths of self focus that is part of the human heart. I have meditated often in recent years on the classic formula that sin “turned us in on ourselves.” How vivid. I am always thinking about myself. I wake in the morning with one question — did I sleep well? Do I feel rested? I walk to the coffee with one question — will this be a good cup of coffee? I sit down to meet with the Lord and my thoughts are not first about Him. I am self- aware. When I look in the mirror later it is with self-consciousness about my weight, my receding hairline, my appearance. I can spend hours on end hardly noticing the people around me except to ask, “I wonder what they think of me?” In essence I simply want to be worshiped — to be considered the brightest, the smartest, the most gifted, the most godly.
It is grievous. And my Savior did not live at all this way. He resisted the temptation to self-absorption every day and thought first of His Father’s will and second of serving the people around him. He desired the good of others’ souls and their esteem and worship of God.
How desperately I need a Savior! I have no power to turn my self-focused heart outward apart from God’s saving grace.
And my culture, as ALL cultures, is self-focused. We hate the possible loss of self in anything, which is why motherhood is particularly abhorrent. I think all our self focus is actually why we are so deeply unhappy — for there is no joy to be found by studying my self.
And here I am amazed — my Savior was humble to save me. He became a lowly God to rescue arrogant man. He is not my example of humility. He is my Savior by his humility. He is what I cannot and will not be — so that now God clothes me in his perfect humility. I am saved from wrath by his death. I am clothed with humility by his life.
And all this compels me to flee all self-regard; to cease patting myself on the back and commending myself. I am free to live in his complete and perfect commendation.
And Jesus’ perfect humility is my destiny. One day, when redemption includes body-soul-spirit, I will be made sinless and will be free from all pride. Then I will be fully human as God intended me to be. And I will be lost in wonder at His glory.