John 5:30 “I can do nothing on my own…I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me.”

Jesus was our model of humility. If there was anyone who was capable, it was Jesus. If there was anyone who knew His purpose and could carry it out, it was Jesus. But He didn’t seek to accomplish anything. He even said He couldn’t do anything on His own. He gave Himself over to the Father completely. We’re to give ourselves over to Christ completely.

We are not our own; we’ve been bought with a price. We’re to be empty of self, full of all the fullness of God. We’re not to think on our thoughts, speak our own words, find our own pleasure, or do our own ways. We’re to be His, surrendered into His hands. Can you picture surrender? There’s no fight left in you. But for the Christian, there is full trusting in the one who has already won your victory.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 …You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

Isaiah 58:13b …and shall honor Him, not doing your own ways, nor finding your own pleasure, nor speaking your own words.

2 Chronicles 20:17 You will not need to fight in this battle. Stand firm, hold your position, and see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf…

Look again at that verse from Isaiah 58, found above. We’re to honor God by not doing our own way, speaking our own words, or finding our own pleasure. The converse, the opposite, is that we dishonor God if we do our own way, speak our own words, or find our own pleasure. How many Americans feel like they “earn” breaks, times of relaxation where they do their own thing and seek out pleasurable things? That’s not a biblical thing. It’s not a humble thing. We don’t earn anything. We are servants only doing the Master’s will. He provides all the means of accomplishing His will. He does the earning. He gets the glory and recognition. Our lives are not our own.

Luke 17:10 So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, “We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.”

Lesson Point: We are to imitate Jesus in His humility, empty of ourselves and seeking only to do God’s will.

Challenge Question: Where do you see yourself being self-reliant? Pray and give that area over to God. Where do you see yourself seeking your own pleasure? Pray and give that over to God. Where do you see yourself speaking your own words? Pray and give that over to God.