Friday 15 June 2012

Exalted humility and humble exaltation


But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted. – Matthew 23.11-12

Jesus must have really wanted us to grasp this concept of humility. He repeats it over and over in a variety of ways. Here He spelled it out very clearly – whoever exalts himself will be humbled and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

We all know people on both extremes. Most of us fall somewhere in between. The particular comment here is to the Pharisees who exalt themselves above others and will one day be abased and brought low. Those regular people who keep themselves humble will one day be lifted up.

I think there is an applicable principle here as well.

We are all level in God’s eyes. When we get to heaven there will be no great ones and no less than great ones. Those who lift themselves up or allow themselves to be lifted up today will one day be brought down. Those who serve humbly and quietly and meekly today will one day be lifted up to the same level.

We are all level in His sight. One day we are going to see and live that truth in a practical and real way. Let’s focus on that equality here and now. It may change how we all see each other.

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