Have you ever noticed that it is the smallest birds that do the singing? I didn’t discover this strange fact myself, IU read it somewhere. But I have noticed that it is true. You don’t hear songs from the eagles, or ostriches, or cranes. You hear them from the sparrows, the wrens, and the canaries.
I think that there is a lesson that can be learned in this. Many times we look at ourselves and we determine that we aren’t big enough or important enough to make much of a difference in our world. Based on that analysis, we sometimes choose to take a back seat and rely on others to get things done that we want to see accomplished. That can be true at work, in our personal lives, or even in our spiritual lives.
But remember, it is the little birds that do the singing. The Bible tells of several people whom God used in various ways who didn’t seem like the most important people in the world. A young servant girl helped Naaman, a military leader, who had leprosy. A young shepherd named David became king. Tax collectors and fishermen were chosen to be Jesus’ own disciples.
Humility is an admirable characteristic. But hiding behind humility so that you miss your opportunities to serve the Lord is not so admirable. Our Lord himself was one of the most humble human beings who ever lived. Yet he did what God put him on earth to do, serving in such a way that sets him far above all others.
Today as we follow Jesus into Jerusalem, we will note his humility, but also his determination to do what God called him to do. As we do so, we will see him…
“Exalted in Humility”
I. The Example Set by Jesus.
II. The Opportunities God Gives to Us
Paul says to us in his letter to the Philippians, “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus…” Already with these words, Paul establishes what it is that God is looking for in his people. He wants us to have an attitude that is similar to what his Son demonstrated while he was on the earth. You might think—sure, just be like Jesus—that’ll be easy. But in the next verse, Paul shows us what it is that God expects of us.
He wrote, “Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.” Paul doesn’t deny the fact that there was a tremendous reason why Jesus should be praised—he was God! Although many people and religions deny that, Paul accepts it as fact. He said that Jesus was “in very nature God.” But that is not what Paul, inspired by God, praised Jesus for. He was praised for his attitude. He was God, but he did not “consider equality with God something to be grasped.” He could have played that trump card. He could have claimed his right to be honored and glorified. But he didn’t. He “made himself nothing.” He humbly and obediently did what his heavenly Father called on him to do. And it was that attitude that drew the praise of Paul and the praise of Jesus’ heavenly Father.
Paul went on to further describe what it was about Jesus that brought praises to him. He wrote, “And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient unto death—even death on a cross.” With a humble, servant-like attitude, Jesus carried out his role on earth. He left behind the glory and the honor that were rightly his. He became one of us and took on himself the punishment that should have been ours because of our sins. And all of this he did willingly and without a single complaint. Many times when we think of Jesus our thoughts are drawn to the powerful and divine things that he did. We think of his miracles or the salvation that he won.
But let’s not forget the many ordinary and even mundane things that Jesus did that caught the attention of others. He washed his disciples’ feet because no one else wanted to stoop so low. He sat down and talked to a woman at a well, a Samaritan woman whom others from Judea or Galilee did not consider worthy of their time or attention. He visited a tax collector at his home because he knew that man needed a few minutes of his time.
It was never simply what he did that brought praise from his heavenly Father. It was always how and why he did it that was noticed. Jesus put into action the words that Paul would later write, So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all to the glory of God.” (I. Cor. 10:31) That attitude is what God wants us to notice and to emulate. The willingness to give of himself and the selfless decisions that Jesus made are what God wants us to note. Instead of always thinking “me first,” God wants us to put others and their needs first.
And every day that we live, we will find opportunities that God gives to us to do just that.
II.The Opportunities that God Gives Us
Remember Paul wrote, Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus…” We are never told that we have to do exactly what Jesus did. God is not expecting us to heal the sick and raise the dead. But he is looking for us to have an attitude that is similar to the attitude that Jesus had while he lived on the earth. He expects us to serve him humbly, willingly, and devotedly, just as Jesus did every day of his life.
Such an attitude runs contrary to the will and opinion of many who live around us today. It is often considered foolish to do something that doesn’t offer any personal benefits or advantages. While certain sacrifices might be considered gracious and generous, certainly an entire life of self-sacrifice seems like a bit much to expect from anyone. We might consider sacrificing some of our comforts and pleasures some of the times, but to do so willingly, gladly, and without complaining is quite difficult for us to do.
We often see that it is the winners in the world who get the honors. It has been said that nobody remembers who came in second or that second is only the first loser. We see that the squeaky wheel gets the grease—those who complain the loudest or push and shove the hardest often get their way. The meek and humble seem to get trampled and pushed aside.
But Paul wasn’t living in a world void of such things when he wrote, “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus….” Jesus didn’t have to make any sacrifices. He didn’t owe anyone his time or his energy. He deserved to be the one being served, not the one doing the serving. But Paul noted that he “…did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.”
Every day we have opportunities to imitate our Savior. We have opportunities to give of our time and energy to help others. We have opportunities to put others and their needs ahead of ourselves and our own needs. God allows us to serve him by serving one another. When Jesus road into Jerusalem on that first Palm Sunday, many lined the roads and sang his praises. But they were there for the wrong reasons. They thought that they were welcoming their new earthly king, the one who would soon win their political freedom and offer them riches and a life of ease. Just 5 days later many of these same would turn on him when they realized that he wasn’t going to do that.
But God the Father did not turn on his Son. He saw the accomplishments that were hidden behind the humility. He was the love and devotion that brought Jesus to Jerusalem that day. He saw the determination and the dedication that carried Jesus into the city where he would die. And that is why he praised him through the pen of Paul.
God is also watching to see how we live our lives. He looks beyond just what we do and sway to why we do and say those things. Remember Cain brought sacrifices and the Pharisees brought offerings to the temple. But both were rejected because, although the outward actions were right, the interior motives were all wrong. God sees what is in our hearts, and he notices the attitude that we have as we live our lives.
You don’t have to be a big bird to sing. You don’t have to heal the sick and raise the dead to catch the attention of our heavenly Father. It’s the little birds who sing. It’s the little thoughts, words and actions that are noted by our heavenly Father. You don’t have to be the first or the best. God just wants our attitude to be like that of Christ Jesus. So take advantage of every opportunity that God gives to you to serve him. And as we live to his glory, may he help us to be more like Christ Jesus.
Amen.
“The peace of God….”