HE HUMBLED HIMSELF by T. E. Bowen

Pacific Press Publishing Company · OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA · Nov 14, 1900

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 26, No. 46.

HE HUMBLED HIMSELF.

By T. E. Bowen

CHRISTIANS sometimes pray that they may be humbled. They are thus asking God to do that which He has left for us to do. When Jesus took upon Himself our human nature, and became subject to all the temptations the devil ever can present to a human soul, it is written of Him that He "humbled Himself." "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus; who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God; but made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men; and being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross." Phil. 2:5-8.

Jesus is our Pattern; and in this scripture we are told of three things that He did,—He made Himself of no reputation; He took upon Himself the form of a servant; and He humbled Himself to die, not even as servants die, but submitting Himself to the death of criminals.

Thus we are taught to humble ourselves. God is abundantly able to humble the proudest of earth. And all those who fail to heed the admonition, "Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God" (1 Peter 5:6), will, under this same mighty hand, be humbled. For of God it is written, "Those that walk in pride He is able to abase." Individuals, nations, kingdoms, or powers of the kingdoms of darkness, shall not be able to withstand God. Altho in self-exaltation they may ascend into the clouds, from the clouds will they be brought down.

The human heart is proud. Pride manifests itself in different ways; but the result is always the same,—to forget God. The heart filled with self has no room for Jesus. Because of this, God hates pride. "These six things doth the Lord hate; yea, seven are an abomination unto Him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, an heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, a false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren." Prov. 6:16-19.

God loves the humble, contrite ones. He walks with them. His promises are abundant for them, and they might all be summed up in this one, "He shall save the humble person." Therefore let us not ask God to humble us, but humble ourselves, that we may "walk" with Him. T. E. BOWEN.