From heaven’s glory and His place of equality with God, Jesus took steps of humility.
“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! Phil 2:7-8
Because Jesus humbled himself so completely in these ways, God, in turn, exalted him to the highest place in the universe. God gave him the name that is above every name and ordained that at the name of Jesus, every knee should bow and every tongue should confess him as Lord.
There is a law at work in our lives—one that also governs the entire universe. It is the law that relates to humility and pride. Here is the way Jesus outlines this statute:
“Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted,” Matt 23:12. This precept is universal.
This is a saying that is common but often ignored. “The way up is down; the way down is up.” If we want to go up, we must start by going down; but if we start by going up, we will end by going down. Jesus laid special emphasis on this in Luke 14:11 and again in Luke 18:14.
God doesn’t stand guard over us in case we break this law so that he can punish us. As a matter of fact, universal laws are made to operate independently; you do not “break” these laws. When you go against them, they actually break you. A person who steps out of a five-story window into nothing does not break the law of gravity. The law of gravity will break him.
If you want to be great, you have to become a servant. If you want to be first—better still—you have to go even lower. You have to become a slave.
This principle holds true in the spiritual realm, even though many people do not recognise or acknowledge its reality.
Paul said, “Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible.” 1 Cor 9:19
He became a free man when saved but made himself Christ’s slave to serve others. (1 Cor 7:22). The book of Philippians 2:5–6 concluded that Christ humbled himself, became the slave, and served God and us out of love; so, “In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus.”
Let His mind be in us!
“Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many,” Matt 20:28
Let us humble ourselves to serve God!
Author
kay.alli@legalview.co.uk