Welcome to another day the Lord has made that we should rejoice and be glad in. (Psalms 118:24)

Today we’ll expand on yesterday’s great inversion, with it’s core tenant, which is the elevation inversion which is where humility results in exalting.

In Matthew 23:12 (NLT) Jesus promised…
But those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.

And Philippians 2:5‭-‬11 (NLT) says…
You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Consider…
Yesterday we looked at Jesus’ servant leadership philosophy and example. It was demonstrated by Him humbling Himself and washing His followers feet. In our passage from Philippians 2, we see Jesus once again being the standard and example of humility. However, today we see that God the Father fulfilled the inversion promise Jesus made in our first scripture today, which is…
those who humble themselves will be exalted.

In response to Jesus humbling Himself in obedience to God, Philippians 2:9 (NLT) says…
Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names.

This was the elevation inversion promise on full display.

While the elevation is appealing, the inversion is revealing. God has a different way of seeing and doing things in His Kingdom, than the world.

• The least shall be the greatest
• The last shall be first
• The humble shall be elevated

According to Jesus the inverse of that last paradoxical truth is also true. He said…
But those who exalt themselves will be humbled.

This shows us, that God responds to both pride and humility. In fact James 4:6 (ERV) states…
But the kindness God shows is greater. As the Scripture says, “God is against the proud, but he is kind to the humble.”

And 1 Peter 5:5 (ERV) exhorts…
Young people, I have something to say to you too. You should accept the authority of the elders. You should all have a humble attitude in dealing with each other. “God is against the proud, but he is kind to the humble.”

Knowing God’s response to pride and humility, let’s look closer at the attitude which engenders the preferred response of His kindness.

Today’s second scripture points out…

• “Though he was God.” That alone is a mouthful. Jesus was God and He knew it. Many of us like to tell ourselves and others that we’re the King’s kids, and according to Galatians 3:26 we are. However, just like today’s scripture, we can’t rest on those laurels.
• Next, the passage says, “he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to.” So, King’s kid, why do you cling to your royalty? We need to be very careful trumpeting the fact that we’re children of the King. If it’s about who we are, it’s prideful, however if it’s telling others about God’s open adoption of all who believe, it’s humble appreciation.
• The scripture continues, “instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being.” What divine privileges do you need to give up? May I suggest one privilege might be our freedom in Christ as exhorted by the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 8:9 (NLT), which says…But you must be careful so that your freedom does not cause others with a weaker conscience to stumble.
• Lastly, the passage said, “when he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.” This was total submission. Indeed this was Romans 12:1 lived out by Jesus. The key line we as believers should ascribe to is, “humbled himself in obedience to God”. That’s how we “offer our lives as a living sacrifice to God”. God told us in 1 Samuel 15:22 that obedience is better than sacrifice. I believe that’s because obedience is the ultimate sacrifice. You see obedience says not my will but Thy will be done.

So today, if you aspire to go higher in God, lower yourself in obedience before Him. Then and only then will you receive His elevation inversion promise.

Today’s song is…
Take My Life (Holiness)
https://youtu.be/eC9-kvrTQGs?si=3pIoKlWaLkCH-se4

Blessings 4HG (1 Corinthians 10:31)