NFL fans were blown away last year by the emergence of Baltimore Ravens quarterback, Lamar Jackson. With incredible play on both the ground and through the air, he ended up being the league’s unanimous MVP.

Considering he’s only 23 years old and just getting started, fans are excited to see if he can pick up where he left off and continue to improve, and how last year’s surprising playoff loss to the Titans gives him extra motivation.

Jackson’s dynamic style of play is very easy to root for, as well as, his character and demeanor. Although winning the MVP and a Heisman Trophy while at Louisville, this young superstar continues to remain humble.

According to Ravens’ head coach, John Harbaugh, “He’s not gonna get caught up in any of the hype. He’s humble. He’s very hungry. He wants to be a better player. He knows he’s got a lot to learn.”

Harbaugh also said, “…He’s had some hard knocks, he’s gone down in the playoffs a couple times, those are real experiences that you grow from, that callous you, that toughen you up. That’ll only make him a better leader.”

As one of the new faces of the NFL, Jackson’s going to continue to receive plenty of attention and acclaim, but based on an SI.com article, he desires to remain the same humble guy and understands who helps him stay grounded.

This is his explanation from the article: “The Lord. You know, He put me in this position. And I’ve always been humble before I was in this position, so it don’t make sense for me to get here and just start acting out of character, or not acting like I’ve been there before.

“When I won the Heisman in college, I didn’t really look at that like it was a big deal either. But to everyone else it was. Same with the MVP. I’m just a humble person. I just chill. I don’t really look at stuff like other people do.”

Yesterday I wrote about how humility leads to a tender heart and today I want to focus on the connection between being humble and being hungry. Harbaugh describes Jackson that way and I wonder if others would say the same about us.

Humility helps us understand that we haven’t arrived, we aren’t perfect, we don’t have all the answers, we don’t need to get caught up in our accomplishments, and we know we don’t have everything figured out.

When that is our attitude and perspective, then we remain hungry with the desire to grow, improve, mature, and get better. This affects how we approach our jobs, relationships, and parenthood because if we are driven by pride and think we don’t need to improve because we’re already a superstar, then we’ll lack the hunger to grow.

We see this all the time in sports when players start buying into the “press clippings” and their skills on the field start slipping because they lose their humility and hunger.

For us, surrendering our lives to Jesus begins with a humble heart that acknowledges how broken and in need of a Savior we are, while also having a hunger for righteousness.

Matthew 5:6 (AMP) says, “Blessed [joyful, nourished by God’s goodness] are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness [those who actively seek right standing with God], for they will be [completely] satisfied.”

As followers of Jesus, we want to remain hungry for truth and His presence and be hungry to know God intimately and grow in our character and Christlikeness.

We humbly know we won’t reach perfection, but we press on as Paul acknowledges in Philippians 3:12 (AMP): “Not that I have already obtained it [this goal of being Christlike] or have already been made perfect, but I actively press on so that I may take hold of that [perfection] for which Christ Jesus took hold of me and made me His own.”

Today as we seek to be hungry and humble, let’s remember that God is the one who helps us stay grounded. Let’s use these meaningful words in Psalm 25:9 (NLT) to be our reminder:

“He leads the humble in doing right, teaching them His way.”

I’m Bryce Johnson and you can UNPACK that!

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I’m so thankful that you meet me in my brokenness and still love me. Thank you for the growth I’ve experienced and the blessings I’ve received, but help me remain humble and hungry after You. I desire to do Your will. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.

Discussion Questions for PACKS:

1. What would you say you’re hungry for?

2. What gets in the way most often from you keeping a humble spirit?