Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, 2 fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.
5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. 9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Dear Jesus,
I want to demonstrate the spirit of humility that graces You, the Servant of all. I want to see myself rightly in Your eyes. I don't want to think more highly or more lowly of myself that I ought.
As I gaze into the pages of Your Word, reveal Yourself to me. Reveal myself to me. Shape me and conform me more and more into Your likeness. I want to be like You. I want to model Your fellowship with common folks. I want Your perfect love and a passion for Holy Spirit wrought unity to dominate my life. Slay any vestige of self-promotion within me, so that I am consumed with one Godly passion, to exalt You.
Make me a servant. I want to serve the common and the king. I want to serve the weak and the strong.
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with Kings—nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much...
(Rudyard Kipling)
Help me to be dead to my reputation, and never stir to shape or reclaim it. Consume my heart with identification with You. Make my life into a sweet smelling savor of worship to You, King of my heart, King of Kings, Lord of all.
Mary Fletcher said of her late husband, John Fletcher, the early Methodist: "He was blessed with so great a degree of humility, as is scarce to be found. I am witness how often he has rejoiced in being treated with contempt. Indeed it seemed the very food of his soul, to be little and unknown."
Remind me that the moment in which I feel that I have attained humility, I have lost any vestige of it.
Be exalted, O God.
In the Name of my ever living Lord,
Amen.
SPIRIT OF GOD, DESCEND UPON MY HEART
by George Croley (1854)
Spirit of God, descend upon my heart;
Wean it from earth; through all its pulses move;
Stoop to my weakness, mighty as Thou art;
And make me love Thee as I ought to love.
I ask no dream, no prophet ecstasies,
No sudden rending of the veil of clay,
No angel visitant, no opening skies;
But take the dimness of my soul away.
Teach me to feel that Thou art always nigh;
Teach me the struggles of the soul to bear.
To check the rising doubt, the rebel sigh,
Teach me the patience of unanswered prayer.
Hast Thou not bid me love Thee, God and King?
All, all Thine own, soul, heart and strength and mind.
I see Thy cross; there teach my heart to cling:
O let me seek Thee, and O let me find!
Teach me to love Thee as Thine angels love,
One holy passion filling all my frame;
The kindling of the heaven descended Dove,
My heart an altar, and Thy love the flame.
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