Those verses from Paul’s letter to the Philippians should be memorized and understood by every Christian. We should hang them on our doorposts, post them on our cell phones, and quote them to the mirror every morning. It would change our lives and our witness if we lived with the overwhelming truth about Jesus’ sacrifice.

Jesus was there when the world was created. Jesus lived in the glory and perfection of heaven. In heaven, Jesus never felt pain, never was ill, never was tempted, and never existed a moment apart from the loving presence of God the Father. Jesus was praised by the angels in heaven and surrounded by the saints of the Old Testament. Jesus received the glory he was due and lived in the glory he deserved.

Then Jesus stepped away from all of that to be born “in the likeness of men” and raised by a family. He “emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant.” He worked hard as a carpenter and then left that work to do the ministry of the Messiah. Finally, “he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” Jesus gave up the highest glory of heaven to receive the most shameful, painful death ever devised by man. Jesus did that for you and for everyone.

We are called to be like Jesus, beginning with his humility. Humility is one of the qualities of Jesus most difficult to attain, especially in our culture today. Human nature leads us to claw our way to the top. God’s nature within us is the only way we will humbly claw our way to the bottom.

The power behind humility is the picture of all that Christ gave up to become our Savior. And Paul said, “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus.” The only way we will have “this mind” is to gain that mindset from Jesus and the example he lived and died to give us.

Wisdom is understanding that the gift of Jesus is our treasure. Jesus is also the power to live our lives with his humility.