Humility and Exaltation

 This world tells us that we need to assert ourselves, and make sure that everyone else knows how great we are in certain things. If we do not do that, we feel like we will be left behind and left out of getting a promotion or a bonus. It is also just a product of our pride. We feel proud of ourselves, and we want others to know about it, too. The only problem is that God is against self promotion. In God's economy He can't bless us, if we try to get noticed so others will look up at us. God's way is just the opposite. Jesus put it well for us. (Matthew 23:12) Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. God makes sure of that.

We can see how God humbles those who exalt themselves by looking back to Lucifer in Heaven. He was beautiful, and He was talented in music and leading worship around God's throne. His pride got to him, and He wanted to be worshiped like God was worshiped. Therefore, he exalted himself to the other angels and one third of them rose up to follow him as their leader. It was then that God humbled Lucifer and his followers. He burned up all of his beauty. He cast him out of Heaven and down to Hell. He became Satan, the liar, instead of being Lucifer, the light bearer. His fall was very great, because He exalted himself more than anyone else. Then, we see the opposite in Jesus, Himself. He humbled Himself more than anyone every has by leaving Heaven to come suffer and die for the sins of the world. He suffered more than anyone ever has, but He did not protest. He did not feel sorry for Himself. Then, God raised Him from the dead and gave Him a name that is above every name, so that everyone and everything in Heaven, on Earth, and under the Earth would confess Jesus is Lord. The one who humbled Himself the most was exalted the highest. This principle of God is always at work in our lives, too; so if we wish to be blessed, we must humble ourselves in all we do, and become like Jesus in His power.

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Tomorrow, I intend to read Matthew 24-26.