Double Humble
Welcome to 2025! The first Bible Advocate of the New Year posts next week, but here is an early first look at my “First Word” for the January-February issue…
A new year means a new theme, and we have chosen Kingdom People. Our six issues will survey six key characteristics of King Jesus and of the people who follow Him: humility, service, mercy, wisdom, patience, and faithfulness [Also, look for people you might know on our six covers this year, which will feature COG7 brethren from around the world]. There are others to explore, but these six illustrate best what kingdom people look like and how we relate to the kingdoms of this world.
We begin with humility because that is where every believer begins: on our knees before God, aware of our sin, our need, our limits. We must never lose this humble orientation.
We begin with humility for another reason: It is the core disposition of Jesus’ own self-identity. Read what He says about Himself: “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart . . .” (Matthew 11:29).
I wasn’t surprised to find that four writers include this crucial saying of Jesus in their articles this issue. Paul elaborates on it, writing profoundly of Christ’s death on the cross as the climax of a two-act work of humility:
Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 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 (Philippians 2:5-8).
Though divine, Jesus descended and “made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant.” That is Act One. And then finding Himself in the form of man, He “humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death.” That’s Act Two. As God and man, Jesus was double-humble.
“Let this mind be in you.” What mind? “Take My yoke.” What yoke? Humility! That is the way of our King and His kingdom. “For thus saith the high and lofty One . . . I dwell . . . with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit” (Isaiah 57:15, KJV).
Read and enjoy!
— Jason Overman
