“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, [pg 587] gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” Gal. 5:22, 23.
Christ In The Garden. "Nevertheless not My will, but Thine, be done." Luke 22:42.
6. What does Christ say of those who exalt themselves?
“For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.” Luke 14:11.
Note.—The spirit of self-exaltation is of Satan. See Isa. 14:12-14; Eze. 28:17. Christ humbled Himself, made Himself of no reputation, and became obedient even to the death on the cross. See Phil. 2:5-8.
7. By what means did Jesus illustrate true humility?
“And Jesus called a little child unto Him, and set him in the midst of them, and said, ... Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child; the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” Matt. 18:2-4.
Notes.—Humility is “freedom from pride and arrogance; lowliness of mind; a modest estimate of one's own worth.” It implies a sense of one's own unworthiness through imperfection and sinfulness, and consists in rating our claims low, in being willing to waive our rights, and to take a lower place than might be our due. It does not require that we under-rate ourselves or our life-work. The humility of Christ was perfect, yet He had a true sense of the importance of His life and mission.
“Humility is like a tree, whose root, when it sets deepest in the earth, rises higher, and spreads fairer, and stands surer, and lasts longer, and every step of its descent is like a rib of iron.”—Bishop Taylor.