Issue 988 – Above It All – February 21, 2023

I snapped this shot through the window of a moving bus some years ago in a closed communist country in Southeast Asia. I was there with a medical mission team.

This tall tree near the top of a mountain pass stood out above its neighbours in the fog. I have no idea what tree species it is, but the way it stood out caught my eye. I was reminded of some of Dr. Suess’ trees.

We live in a society where standing out above and beyond others is held to be a lofty goal. We strive to be first in our class, the fastest or the strongest, the richest, the most famous in every category you can imagine, and some I probably can’tcan’t.

People debase themselves on television talk shows for their fifteen minutes of fame or pursue world records in the most inane categories—anything to stand out and be noticed, at least momentarily.

Ironically, the kingdom of heaven works oppositely. It is the humble who are raised up and the proud who are looked past.

… do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”? But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, ” God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you. James 4:5-10

The God of Heaven and Earth, the Creator of everything that exists, the one truly above it all, set aside His heavenly place, humbled Himself and came to our rescue.

So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 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 2:1-11

What a marvel that He should choose to step into the world as an infant to redeem His enemies. Were it not for His humble obedience, everyone on earth would be lost forever. Without His incarnation, no one could be saved.

Ironically, His humility set the bar so high that none of us can come close. Yet we can choose to set aside our desires in the service of others out of love for Him.

Humility is harder than self-promotion and self-aggrandizement but pays off in more significant eternal rewards.

Let us seek to put our sin and pride to death and serve the living King, the one who is truly above it all.

Be Blessed

Hallelu Yah / Praise God 

Kevin

Gleanings From The Word

Experience an extraordinary God in ordinary life. 

Soli Deo Gloria (For the glory of God alone)

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All contents, “Gleanings From The Word” and “Experience an Extraordinary God in Ordinary Life,” are © 2001, 2023 K.F. “Kevin” Corbin Gleanings From The Word.

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is from the English Standard Version (ESV). 

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