Every Good Gift: A 28-Day Advent DevotionalSample

Now we turn our attention to humility. Our good life is expressed through good deeds done in humility. On the first day of our Advent journey together it was pointed out that humility is necessary to invite others into the good life because hope cannot originate with us. Hope is only found in Jesus, God’s great gift to us. Humility is a natural response for those who understand the hope they are given through Jesus Christ. Hope inspires humility.

It is the only position from which we can experience the good life, because it is the position from which Christ lived. In fact, it is one of the only two adjectives that Jesus used to describe himself with: gentle and humble (Matthew 11:29). It positions us well in our relationship with God Himself, but also with others. 

Humility also puts hope into action. It helps us to live wisely, a life that puts others first. “…With humility comes wisdom.” (Proverbs 11:2) 

On his first day at the Compassion centre, four-year-old Kelvin fell from a tree and broke his arm. Today, at 22 years old, he still remembers how he was treated with love by the health worker who rushed him to the nearest health community centre. The humble service of that health worker is what inspires the Compassion alumnus' work today.

After graduating, Kelvin decided to become a health worker at his former Compassion centre in Honduras, serving the children there with the same humility and gentleness that he experienced. “Kelvin is very humble and has a gentle heart to treat our beneficiaries because he also served as a tutor at the centre,” shared Ninfa, the Compassion centre director.

“My satisfaction is to see children healing from the inside out,” shared Kelvin. “I work relentlessly until a beneficiary is healthy and free of injuries. I must say that dealing with children’s medical episodes is a delicate job but it’s rewarding at the same time because I witness God’s healing and children’s recovery. Serving others is a calling and I enjoy it.”

Just like Kelvin, our humility can put hope into action so that others can experience the good life. Kelvin truly lived out Philippians 2:3-4:

“In humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.”

Prayer:

Jesus, You called Yourself gentle and humble. Help me to live in such a way that I reflect Your gentleness and humility to others. May the hope you have given me humble me and cause me to live a life that glorifies You. And may humility help me put hope into action on behalf of others so they can experience the good life, too. Amen.