“For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled and he who humbles himself will be exalted” (Luke 14:11).
This truth is also found in Philippians 2:3-11:
“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
The faithfulness of God is wonderful. I received Jesus Christ once 71 years ago, and I have never had to do it again. Not every decision is that permanent. I would like to think that if I humbled myself once, I would never have to do it again. I have had to do it again and again.
The faithfulness of God works in a different way. God is faithful to humble those who exalt themselves. He is also faithful to exalt those who humble themselves. His humbling us and His exalting us may not happen immediately upon our exalting ourselves and our humbling ourselves. In fact, it may not happen until much later.
Written February 1986.
This truth is also found in Philippians 2:3-11:
“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
The faithfulness of God is wonderful. I received Jesus Christ once 71 years ago, and I have never had to do it again. Not every decision is that permanent. I would like to think that if I humbled myself once, I would never have to do it again. I have had to do it again and again.
The faithfulness of God works in a different way. God is faithful to humble those who exalt themselves. He is also faithful to exalt those who humble themselves. His humbling us and His exalting us may not happen immediately upon our exalting ourselves and our humbling ourselves. In fact, it may not happen until much later.
Written February 1986.
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