Passage: Isaiah 57:15; 1 Peter 5:5-7
The Big Idea
Jesus came as a baby: weak, dependent, needing to be fed, cleaned and carried. The One who would walk on water had to learn to walk like the rest of us, clinging to His father’s fingers. That’s the most humble way God could have come, because God loves humility. He dwells with the lowly and lifts them up. This Christmas, receive His grace in humility, and then do what He does: look around for someone you can lift up and encourage.
Jesus Came as a Baby
Yes, Jesus came as a baby. A humble baby.
Little Johnny’s new baby brother was screaming up a storm. Johnny asked his mom, “Where’d we get him?” She said, “He came from heaven, Johnny.” Johnny said, “Wow. I can see why they threw him out!”
Babies are a wonderful picture of humility. A baby is the most humble thing you can be:
- Weak.
- Completely dependent.
- Needs to be cleaned and swaddled.
- Needs to learn to receive nourishment from his mother.
- Needs his diapers changed.
- Can’t stay awake very long, and can’t sleep very long either!
- Has to learn to crawl, walk and talk.
(What do you call a group of baby soldiers? An infant-ry!)
The One who would walk on water had to learn to walk like the rest of us: stumbling, crawling, and clinging to His father’s fingers.
When God became a man, He came in humility: small and weak (Philippians 2:6-8).
God Loves Humility
God loves humility. God uses humility. God blesses humility. God is drawn to humility. He loves to see someone He can lift up.
Isaiah says the High and Exalted One, who lives forever and whose name is Holy, dwells in the high and holy place, and also with the crushed and humble in spirit, to bring new life to the humble and the broken (Isaiah 57:15).
- God is high and mighty.
- Yet He chooses to be with the humble.
- To lift them up in His hand.
- To give them grace. God gives grace to the humble!
Lifting Others Up (1 Peter 5:5-7)
This Christmas, let’s think about how we treat the people God loves and has placed in our lives.
God loves humility, and He loves to lift people up. So can we! We can be humble. We can look around, find someone to lift up, and encourage them.
Peter says: younger people, be subject to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Humble yourselves under God’s mighty hand, so that at the right time He may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you.
- Is anyone around you older than you?
- Is anyone around you younger than you?
- Is there anyone around you at all?
- Serve them. Love them. Revive them!
- I’m so refreshed when someone reaches out and encourages me. It’s like fresh air for my soul.
- So many voices tell me what a failure I am. A true friend who encourages me is an amazing gift.
- I’m sure you feel the same way.
Four Ways to Encourage Someone This Week
1. Encourage them in their relationship with the Lord. Point them to humble dependence on Jesus, to trust and faith in Him.
2. Encourage them with joy. Be a joyful voice in their life: glad to be with them, love them and serve them.
3. Encourage them through loving confrontation. This is the not-so-fun part. A true friend speaks up when something is getting in the way of a friend’s relationship with the Lord. Done in love, it inspires them to follow Jesus more closely (Ephesians 4:15). Without love, it won’t work.
4. Encourage them by listening. Listening can take discipline, especially when we’re eager to jump in and “fix” things. But listening is also a time to pray, asking God for wisdom as the person shares their life and circumstances (James 1:19).
All of this brings the love of God into focus. Jesus told us to let our light shine before others, so they see our good works and glorify our Father in heaven (Matthew 5:16).
Grace Takeaway
The God who inhabits eternity came as a helpless baby, because He loves humility and loves to lift up the lowly. That’s the heart of Christmas: grace coming down. Receive it humbly, then pass it on. Look around this week for someone you can lift up, and be the encouraging voice God uses to remind them how much He cares.
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