Seeking to Resemble Christ’s Humility

There is an old English Christmas Carol called “See, Amid the Winter’s Snow” that is also known as “Hymn for Christmas Day.” I’d like to suggest that this song is actually a hymn for the entire year.

Certainly, the chorus of this beautiful hymn is all about Christmas:

Hail, thou ever blessed morn,
Hail redemption's happy dawn,
Sing through all Jerusalem,
Christ is born in Bethlehem.

But consider with me the last verse:

Teach, O teach us, Holy Child,
By Thy face so meek and mild,
Teach us to resemble Thee,
In Thy sweet humility.

The writer’s point isn’t about looking like an infant with chubby cheeks. Rather the words lead to the characteristic of humility. Our need for humility is one that I think applies all year long.

When we look back on the era in which we currently live, I suspect that historians will chart a rather cosmic shift in our world. Postmodernism has ushered in a vast array of so-called sources of truth, leaving our society without an agreed-upon moral compass.

Political leaders have lost the art of compromise, causing us to dig in our heels and dismiss consideration of alternative positions. Some see an erosion of freedoms for Christians in North America. Others see the rest of the world concluding that Christians are provincial at best, and condescending and energized by hatred at worst. Key to all of this and more is our response.

Back to the hymn. As we look to Christmas and the lessons of which we are reminded at this time of year, a virtue that should characterize us as Christ-followers is humility. Think about how our light might shine as we evidence humility in conversations about politics, creation care, and the right to life.

Consider how our witness would be enhanced if humility is our posture in the workplace, in meetings at church, and even on the floor of the CRC’s synod. Reflect on an increased reliance on humility as we communicate within families, with neighbors, and on social media. Might we better resemble Christ? Might we be more faithful imagebearers of the Creator?

This brief message began with a song, so it also closes with a song. Just as the angels sang “Glory to God in the highest” (Luke 2:14), may we too now and in the coming year increase in humility as we look beyond ourselves and “praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.”

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
praise him, all creatures here below;
praise him above, ye heavenly host;
praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

(Spanish)
A Dios, el Padre celestial
al Hijo, nuestro Redentor,
al eternal Consolador
unidos todos alabad.

(French)
Gloire à Dieu, notre Créateur;
gloire à Christ, notre Rédempteur;
gloire à l’Ésprit Consolateur!
Louange et gloire à Dieu, Sauveur.

(Navajo)
Bóhólníihii baa dahohniih,
́Éí baa  ́ahéé danohsinii,
Nihookáá diné nohlíinii
Chánahogo bich ́i ́ dohotaal.