02/01/2026

Day 1: 

The Foundation of Humility

Jesus Christ - Philippians 2:5-8

"Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross." (Philippians 2:5-8 ESV)

As we begin this journey through twenty-eight days of humility, there is no better place to start than with Jesus Christ Himself. He is not merely an example of humility—He is the very definition of it. In a world that constantly tells us to climb higher, achieve more, and make ourselves known, Jesus demonstrates a radically different path: the way down.

Consider what Paul reveals in this passage. Jesus existed "in the form of God." He possessed all the glory, power, and majesty of the Godhead. He lacked nothing. He needed nothing. Yet He did not cling to His divine privileges as something to be hoarded or protected. Instead, He chose to empty Himself.

This emptying—what theologians call kenosis—is staggering in its implications. The Creator became a creature. The Eternal One entered time. The Almighty became vulnerable. Jesus didn't come as a conquering king riding in triumph. He came as a baby, dependent on human parents, born in a stable among animals. From His very first breath on earth, humility marked His existence.

But the descent didn't stop at the manger. Jesus continued downward, taking on the form of a servant. He who deserved to be served spent His earthly ministry washing feet, touching lepers, and dining with sinners. He who spoke galaxies into existence was misunderstood, mocked, and rejected by the very people He created.

And still, He went lower. The cross was not just a method of execution—it was the most shameful, humiliating death the Roman Empire could devise. Reserved for the worst criminals, crucifixion was designed to strip away every shred of human dignity. Yet Jesus "humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross."

This is the foundation upon which all true humility must be built. We cannot manufacture humility through self-effort or religious discipline. Humility flows from understanding who Jesus is and what He has done. When we grasp that the King of Glory chose poverty, that the Sinless One bore our sin, that the Immortal One tasted death—for us—something shifts in our souls.

Paul's instruction is clear: "Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus." Humility begins with the mind—with how we think about ourselves, about God, and about others. It's a deliberate choice to follow Jesus down the path He walked, to embrace the way of the servant, to release our grip on status and self-promotion.

As we embark on this month-long meditation on humility, let us fix our eyes on Jesus. Every day, we will encounter biblical characters who model different aspects of humility. But they all point back to Him. He is both our example and our enabler. Apart from Him, we can do nothing—including becoming humble.

Reflection: Where in your life are you clinging to position, recognition, or rights that Jesus is calling you to release? What would it look like today to "have this mind" that was in Christ Jesus?

"The same Jesus you worship on Sunday is the one calling you to die to yourself on Monday. Will you obey or just admire?"