Two wise and faithful men were being interviewed after years of exemplary teaching and service. They were both humble, despite their many accolades and awards. The interviewer asked how they were able to resist pride and stay humble? One of the men replied: “How on earth can anyone be arrogant when standing beside the cross?”*

So very true. Just think of what happened at that cross. Philippians 2:6-8 provides a summary. Jesus, who “being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!”

Jesus did this for you and me so that we could escape the eternal judgment and wrath of God and receive instead his embrace and peace. None of this happened because of how great you and I are, but because of how great Christ is!

“How on earth can anyone be arrogant when standing beside the cross?”

Arrogance is something we all need to caution against. With sleek self-deception it seeks to downplay the word and will of God, and to see others as perpetually flawed people who are always in the way.

Satan’s greatest ally is ego. Let’s not give him any more help.

Let’s be humble at the foot of a love-soaked cross.

---

Notes:

—*D.A. Carson, Basics for Believers: The Core of Christian Faith and Life (BakerBooks: Grand Rapids, 1996), 72.

—Bible quotes are from the NIV.