Like Jesus: We Humble God Lifts

“Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name.” (Philippians 2:9)

In coming to earth, in becoming a human servant, Jesus made Himself nothing. He humbled Himself to the lowest point. He made the choice to treat others as better than Himself (they weren’t), to serve, to die.

steps_350Then God the Father made a choice to un-humble Jesus. He lifted Him up to the highest place and gave Him the most powerful, most respected, and most feared name in past and future history. He took Jesus’ shameful and obedient and loving and selfless death on the cross and turned Jesus into the greatest champion of all time.

God calls us to follow that same pattern. We humble ourselves and wait. We serve. We treat others better. We kill off every “me first” impulse. Then, at just the right moment, He will lift us up. See 1 Peter 5:5-6 to see for yourself.

Think: How are you doing at thinking like Jesus and humbling yourself under God’s mighty hand? Is your ego losing any weight?

Pray: Ask God to help you both to know how and to want to humble yourself in service to others.

Do: Memorize 1 Peter 5:5-6 and roll it around in your head every day this week. (You can skip the first sentence unless you’re a “young man.”)