What do Poverty, Humility, and Agony have to do with Victory?
Introduction: The way UP is DOWN! Humility is on public display in the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, including His second coming. Through the lens of Scripture, one can clearly see both humanity and deity combined.
Following the unmistakable trail of Jesus makes the pathway to Victory possible for every believer. But how is that done, one may ask?
Take an examination from the passage below. Honestly, score yourself. Then, make the necessary changes that are revealed. More than likely, the conclusion will be the title—“The Way Up is Down!”
1. The Way Up is Down! (Philippians 2:5-7) – “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men.”
Either SELF is on the throne of our heart, or JESUS is. Which one is really ruling?
Fully God and yet fully man, JESUS was willing to GO DOWN so that we could GO UP! Leaving Heaven’s glory to come to this earth’s suffering meant GOING DOWN… down from heaven’s splendor and praise to be made a SERVANT.
Have you noticed in POLITICS and in our world today, it is about GOING UP without GOING DOWN in HUMILITY? Our Lord did the opposite.
Where are you? Are you willing to take the LOW road called HUMILITY? Or would you rather stay on the hills of PRIDE—SELF-SUFFICIENCY and INDEPENDENCE?
When you are WRONG, will you admit it? When you have been OFFENDED, will you make it RIGHT?
2. The Way Over is Under! (Philippians 2:8-9) – “And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”
Dying to SELF—being crucified with Christ, taking up a cross daily—is going UNDER.
However, this is diametrically opposed to the world’s way! Contrary to biblical truth, if we are being CONFORMED to this world instead of being TRANSFORMED by the renewing of our mind, then deep down inside, we reverse going UNDER for striving to be OVER.
However, God’s way, as demonstrated by our Lord Jesus, was going UNDER and then being placed OVER.
Have you got this in proper order? What do you need to change? Before you say nothing, ask the Lord.
3. The Way Out is In! (Philippians 2:10-11) – “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
Did you figure out what is meant by the way OUT is IN?
Simply put, the WAY OUT of JUDGMENT and hell is being placed IN a relationship with Jesus Christ. Unfortunately, some choose to stay OUT instead of IN.
Are you IN or OUT?
More than likely, you are IN or you wouldn’t be reading this devotion. So how badly do you want others to be IN?
Imagine being in heaven and bowing at the feet of JESUS!
Conclusion: How did you do with heaven’s exam on HUMILITY? Maybe you need to GO DOWN right now, GO UNDER, and GO IN? If so, then you can expect to GO UP, OVER, and OUT! Praise the Lord!
Love y’all,
Dr. Randy Reese
