Text: Matthew 23:12 NKJV

Further Reading: Matthew 23:1-12

And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.

Matthew 23:12 NKJV

MESSAGE

We know that through the scriptures God made it clear that pride will bring a man down. The Bible says that God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble  (James 4:6). The Bible further teaches that only when a man submits to God in humility that such a fellow can resist the devil (James 4:7).

It is no secrete that the proud man is an enemy of God. God hates pride that the scripture says, Though the Lord is on high, Yet He regards the lowly; But the proud He knows from afar. Psalms 138:6 NKJV

Just like every other lesson Jesus taught, He taught us humility by example. He was not asking us to take a position that He had not taken Himself. Though He was the Messiah yet He was born in the manger. The Bible says that that we should emulate Him in humility because of the following:

(1) Though being in the form of God, Jesus did not consider it robbery to be equal with God. (2) He made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. (3) And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Philippians 2:6‭-‬8 NKJV

Here are the things Jesus taught about humility. (1) If you will be great in God, you must be humble as a child (Matthew 18:4). (2) In leadership, those who will be great must be humble so that God can lift that fellow up (Like 14:11). (3) To receive mercy and forgiveness you must be humble (Luke 18:10-14).

What this means is that those who follow after the example of Christ’s humility will keep rising. If you want to keep rising in God, do this two things. (1) Be holy and (2) Be humble.

See the result of Christ’s humility as describes in Philippians 2:9-11:
Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Philippians 2:9‭-‬11 NKJV

You have nothing to gain being proud, therefore stay humble and you will see how quickly you will rise and keep rising.

REFLECTION

Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time.

1 Peter 5:6 NKJV

God is committed to lifting the humble – are you humble? Check your life.

PRAYER

Father, please give me the grace to follow after the foot steps of Christ in humility.