10/06/2026
“There are three great motives that urge us to humility. These are based upon the three perspectives under which humility may be considered—the three ways of cataloging humility. Let me explain. Humility applies to me as a creature, as a sinner, and as a saint. And it well becomes me in each of these three categories.
The first aspect of humility we see in the heavenly hosts, in unfallen man, and in Jesus as Son of Man. The second aspect appeals to us in our fallen state, and points out the only way through which we can return to our right place as creatures. In the third aspect of humility we have the mystery of grace, which teaches us that as we lose ourselves in the overwhelming greatness of redeeming love, humility becomes to us the consummation of everlasting blessedness and adoration.
In our ordinary religious teaching, the second aspect has been too exclusively put in the foreground, so that some have even gone to the extreme of saying that we must keep sinning if we are indeed to keep humble. Others again have thought that the strength of self-condemnation is the secret of humility. And so the Christian life has suffered loss, for believers have not been distinctly guided to see that even in our relation as creatures nothing is more natural and beautiful and blessed than to be nothing, that God may be all. And it has not been made clear that it is not sin that humbles most, but grace, even though the person who through his sinfulness is led to be occupied with God in His wonderful glory as Sovereign, Creator and Redeemer is the one who will truly take the lowest place before Him.
So in these meditations I have, for more than one reason, almost exclusively directed attention to the humility that is fitting to us as creatures. It is not only that the connection between humility and sin is already abundantly set forth in most religious teaching, but because I believe that for the fullness of the Christian life it is indispensable that prominence be given to this other aspect. If Jesus is indeed to be our example in His lowliness, we need to understand the principles in which it was rooted, and in which we find the common ground on which we stand with Him, and in which our likeness to Him is to be attained.
If we are indeed to be humble, not only before God but towards men—if humility is to be our joy—we must see that it is not only the mark of shame because of sin, but, apart from all sin, humility is being clothed upon with the very beauty and blessedness of heaven and of Jesus. We shall see that Jesus truly found His glory in taking the form of a servant, so when He said to us ‘Whosoever would be first among you shall be your servant,’ He simply tayght us the blessed truth that there is nothing so divine and heavenly as being the servant and helper of all. The faithful servant, who recognizes his position, finds a real pleasure in supplying the wants of the master or his guests.
When we see that humility is something infinitely deeper than contrition, and accept it as our participation in the life of Jesus, we shall begin to learn that it is our true nobility, and that to prove it in being servants of all is the highest fulfillment of our destiny, as men created in the image of God.
When I look back upon my own religious experience, or around upon the Church of Christ in the world, I stand amazed at the thought of how little humility is sought after as the distinguishing feature of the discipleship of Jesus. In preaching and living, in the daily in*******se of the home and social life, in the more special fellowship with Christians, in the direction and performance of work for Christ—alas, how much proof there is that humility is not esteemed the cardinal virtue, the only root from which the graces can grow, the one indispensable condition of true fellowship with Jesus. That it should have been possible for men to say of those who claim to be seeking the higher holiness that the profession has not been accompanied with increasing humility, is a loud call to all earnest Christians—however much or little truth there be in the charge—to prove that meekness and lowliness of heart are the chief mark by which they who follow the meek and lowly Lamb of God are to be known.”
-Andrew Murray, in Humility, the Beauty of Holiness
