All-Star Humility

Welcome to today's encouragement from Our Daily Bread. Our reading titled All Star Humility was written by Jennifer Benson-Schult. After a game, a college basketball star stayed behind to help workers throw out empty cups and food wrappers. When a fan posted a video of him in action, more than 80,000 people viewed it. One person commented, The young man is one of the most humble guys you will ever meet in your life. It would have been easier for the basketball player to leave with his teammates and celebrate his role in the team's victory. Instead, he volunteered for a thankless job. The ultimate spirit of humility is seen in Jesus, who left his high position in heaven to take on the role of a servant on earth. He didn't have to do it, but he willingly humbled himself.

His ministry on earth included teaching, healing, and loving all people, and dying and rising to save them. Although Christ's example can inspire us to sweep a floor, pick up a hammer, or dish up food, it may be most powerful when it finds its way into our attitude toward others. True humility is an inner quality that not only changes our actions, but also changes what's important to us.

It motivates us to value others above ourselves. Author and preacher Andrew Murray said, Humility is the bloom and the beauty of holiness. May our lives reflect this beauty, as through the power of His Spirit, we reflect the heart of Christ.

Today's Our Daily Bread devotional scripture reading is from Philippians chapter 2, verses 1 through 8. Therefore, if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from His love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility, value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests, but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus, who being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to His own advantage. Rather, He made Himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.

And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross. Let's pray. Dear Jesus, thank You for humbling Yourself for us by coming to earth and setting an example for us to live by. Help us to follow Your example of valuing others' needs above our own. Thank You, Lord. It's in Your name we pray. Amen. Thank you for listening today. My name is Brenna Holsquaw, and today's encouragement was provided by Our Daily Bread Ministries.