Imitation 3: Humility

“Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:5-11)

“Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus.” We are told to imitate Jesus in an attitude which he had.

He voluntarily made himself low, lower and lowest. Because of this he was elected to the highest place.
Jesus said the same truth several times.

“For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
(Luke 14:11).

“I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Luke 18:14)

“Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” (Matthew 23:12)

Jesus is the ultimate example of humbling oneself. Satan is the ultimate example of exalting oneself.

“Son of man, raise a lamentation over the king of Tyre, and say to him, Thus says the Lord God:
‘You were the signet of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty...Your heart was proud because of your beauty; you corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor. I cast you to the ground; I exposed you before kings, to feast their eyes on you.’” (Ezekiel 28:12, 17)

“You said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; above the stars of God I will set my throne on high;
I will sit on the mount of assembly in the far reaches of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.’ But you are brought down to Sheol, to the far reaches of the pit.” (Isaiah 14:13-15)

We are either imitating Jesus or imitating Satan.

The way up is down and the way down is up.

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Roots by the River

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