The Character of Christ Series
The Character of Christ — Humility in a World of Pride
Pride fills the world like smoke—choking truth, distorting love, and exalting self. But Christ’s character begins in the opposite direction: with humility.
In the battle between light and darkness, humility is not weakness—it is armor. It shields the soul from self-deception, opens the heart to God’s Spirit, and prepares the believer to walk in victory.
In a time when pride is celebrated, let us rediscover why the low path is the only one that leads upward.
The War Between Pride and Humility
The greatest war ever waged began in heaven—and it was sparked by pride (📖 Isaiah 14:12–14). Lucifer, the covering cherub, lifted up in beauty and position, desired to exalt himself above the throne of God. This pride—rooted in self-exaltation—was not only the origin of rebellion, but the root of all sin that would follow throughout history.
In stark contrast, Christ—being one with God, yet choosing to humble Himself—emptied Himself and descended, taking the form of a servant (📖 Philippians 2:5–8). The fall of man began with pride in the garden; the redemption of man was secured by humility on the cross.
Pride is not just arrogance. It is the subtle belief that we can live, choose, or rule independently of God. It manifests in self-reliance, defensiveness, lack of repentance, a need to be right, and an unwillingness to serve. Pride resists correction. It seeks control. It cannot coexist with the Spirit of God.
Humility, on the other hand, is not self-hatred. It is surrender. It is the recognition of our utter dependence on God and the willingness to obey Him even when it costs us our reputation, comfort, or control. Humility welcomes correction. It rejoices when others are exalted. It bows low before God and trusts Him to lift in due time.
📖 Proverbs 16:18 — “Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.”
🔥 This war is not just historic—it is personal. Every day, we are choosing to live by the spirit of pride or the spirit of Christ. The final conflict will expose every heart: whether it is bowed to God or exalting self. To walk in pride is to walk in the footsteps of Satan. To walk in humility is to follow the Lamb—wherever He leads.
Christ—The Perfect Pattern of Humility
No one ever humbled themselves lower than Jesus—and no one ever rose higher.
📖 Philippians 2:7–8 — “But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant… he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”
🚨 The One who created the heavens lay as an infant in a feeding trough. The King of glory wrapped a towel around His waist to wash the feet of dusty fishermen—and even His betrayer. He bore the rejection of His own creation, endured slander, mocking, beatings, and crucifixion, all without a single word of retaliation.
This was not weakness. It was perfect strength—restrained and submitted to the will of the Father.
Christ’s humility was not just an example—it was a revelation of God’s character. In a world where kings demand to be served, Jesus came to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many (📖 Matthew 20:28).
🔹 He silenced the proud — Exposing hypocrisy without arrogance (📖 Luke 20:40).
🔹 He uplifted the broken — Welcoming sinners, healing the outcast, and defending the humble (📖 Luke 7:37–50).
🔹 He disarmed the devil — Not by force, but by the obedience of faith and the power of self-sacrifice (📖 Colossians 2:15).
The Lamb’s path was downward before it ascended upward. And this is the pattern for all who would follow Him. To walk in humility is not just to admire Jesus—it is to be conformed to His image.
📖 Romans 8:29 — “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son.”
💡 We cannot be Christlike without being lowly.
💡 The cross comes before the crown.
💡 The basin and towel come before the throne.
To walk like Jesus is to walk low—trusting the Father to lift us in His perfect time.
The Power of Humility in the End Times
In the last days, pride will reach its peak. The spirit of self-exaltation will saturate society, religious systems, and even professed Christianity. The world will exalt the self-made man, boast in false unity, and worship the image of the beast (📖 Revelation 13:15). Pride will masquerade as power, progress, and even piety.
But in the midst of this delusion, God is preparing a remnant—a people whose greatness is not seen in platform or performance, but in purity of heart. These are not just believers in Christ—they are reflectors of His character.
📖 Isaiah 66:2 — “…to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.”
Humility in the end times will not be optional. It will be protection.
🔹 The humble will discern truth while the proud fall for lies.
🔹 The humble will stand firm when flattery and fear cause others to fall.
🔹 The humble will endure persecution without bitterness, trusting in God’s justice.
🔹 The humble will not seek applause, and thus will not be swayed by its absence.
🔹 The humble will reflect the Lamb, not merely resist the beast.
In a world where pride leads to destruction, humility will be a shield. It is the posture of those sealed by God, for they bow before His throne and tremble at His Word.
🔥 Heaven will not be filled with the proud and self-assured. It will be filled with the meek, the surrendered, and the yielded—those who have learned that the only safe place in the storm is hidden in the humility of Christ.
Biblical Examples of Humility
Humility is not abstract—it is deeply personal and vividly displayed in the lives of those who chose to walk low with God. Scripture gives us powerful witnesses who reveal what true humility looks like in action:
🔹 Moses — Though raised in Pharaoh’s palace, he chose to suffer with God’s people. Despite leading millions, he was called the meekest man on earth (📖 Numbers 12:3). His humility opened the way for God to speak with him face-to-face.
🔹 John the Baptist — A prophet praised by Christ Himself, yet John declared, “He must increase, but I must decrease” (📖 John 3:30). His joy was found in exalting Christ—not himself.
🔹 Mary — A young woman of no worldly significance, yet she humbly accepted the highest calling ever given to a human. “Be it unto me according to thy word” (📖 Luke 1:38).
🔹 The Roman Centurion — A man of authority who recognized Jesus’ divine authority and his own unworthiness. Jesus marveled at his faith, saying, “I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel” (📖 Matthew 8:8–10).
These lives were not marked by position—but by posture. Their greatness lay not in earthly rank, but in how deeply they bowed before God. True humility draws heaven’s attention. It opens the door for God’s favor, power, and presence.
The End-Time Danger of Religious Pride
Pride doesn’t always look arrogant. Sometimes it wears a robe of religion. One of the most dangerous forms of pride is spiritual pride—a quiet confidence in our knowledge, status, or appearance of holiness, all while resisting the Spirit of God.
📖 Revelation 3:17 — “Thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.”
Laodicea thought it was right—but it was blind. The final church of prophecy is not known for immorality, but for self-deception.
🔹 Doctrinal pride blinds us to the need for heart change.
🔹 Religious pride serves from duty, not love.
🔹 Legalistic pride upholds the letter while ignoring the Spirit.
Many will be lost while thinking they were righteous—because pride had disguised itself as spiritual maturity.
📖 Luke 18:14 — “Everyone that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.”
🔥 The final shaking will not just remove compromise—it will expose pride in religious garments. Only those broken before Christ will be sealed with His Spirit.
The call is clear:
Be low before men, and bold before God.
Be poor in spirit, and rich in grace.
Be watchful not just of what we believe, but how we walk it out.
💡 Final Reflection — Bowed Low, Lifted High
📖 James 4:10 — “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.”
📌 The lower you bow, the higher Christ can lift you.
📌 The more you surrender, the more He can fill you.
📌 The more you die to self, the more Christ lives in you.
In the final moments of earth’s history, when men cry for greatness and grasp for control, the true sons and daughters of God will be found bowed—repentant, prayerful, meek. Their greatness is hidden in the shadow of the Almighty, and their strength flows not from pride, but from perfect dependence.
Humility is not weakness; it is the power to say no to the world and yes to Christ. It is the posture of the overcomer. It is the proof of a heart that has seen the cross and surrendered to its message.
📖 1 Peter 5:6 — “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time.”
In the time of judgment, pride will fall—but humility will rise. And those who walked low with Christ will one day walk high with Him in glory.
Choose the low road—it leads to the throne.
Choose humility—it leads to the Lamb.
Call to the Reader — A Personal Prayer
Father in Heaven,
Strip me of pride.
Remove the need to be seen, applauded, or in control.
Clothe me in the humility of Christ— to serve without recognition, to obey without resistance, to love without seeking self.
Help me follow the Lamb wherever He goes— even when that road leads downward.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.