Tag: Humility

Posted in Easter, GOD CARES, Humility, JESUS, Safe with Jesus, Uplifting Christ

THE BIG SACRIFICE

Posted on by Uplifting Christ

For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

(John 3:16, NLT)

In order to draw man to Himself, God gave Jesus Christ. He was the Big Sacrifice to redeem us and to set us apart.

Jesus did not look at His status but gave up all. With such humility, God elevated Him to the Highest place of Authority.

You should think about things in the same way that Christ Jesus thought: Christ had the same nature as God. He was completely equal with God.
But he did not try to keep hold of that. Instead, he chose to leave heaven.
He took for himself the nature of a slave. He became like a human.
And when he lived as a man, he made himself even less important.
He obeyed God completely, so that he died. He even died on a cross!
Because of that, God then raised Jesus Christ to the most important place.
God gave him the name that is greater than every other name. As a result, when people hear Jesus’ name, they must worship him. Everyone will have to go down on their knees in front of him.
That includes everything that is in heaven,
everything on the earth and everything under the earth. Everyone will have to agree that Jesus Christ is Lord. When they say that aloud, they will show that God the Father is very great

(Philippians 2:5-11, EASY)
photo credit: http://www.wibeoy.com

Jesus knew the Cost yet He was determined to Carry the Cross so that you and I can sing Amazing Grace. He looked into the future with Love and Joy as he took one step ahead of the other into His death. He saw You and I spending eternity with Him. He loved us enough to go through the humiliation, pain, rejection, etc.

Today, we talk about Jesus being the big sacrifice but let me ask you, what sacrifice have you made for this Jesus? How are you living your life?

As we run, we must always look towards Jesus. He is the one who trusted God completely. Our faith starts with him, and he will help us to trust God all the way to the end. Jesus accepted punishment on the cross. He chose to receive much pain. He did not think about being ashamed to die like that. He knew that God had prepared something very good for him that would make him happy. Now he has sat down at the right side of God to rule with him in heaven.

(Hebrews 12: 2, EASY)

Your Sacrifice is your symbol of Humility and God will exalt you for whatever you (have) give(n) up for Him.

My Christian friends, God has been very kind to us. Because of that, I really want you to serve God with your whole life. Offer your bodies to him like a sacrifice that continues to live. Serve him with everything that you have and that will please him. That is the true way to worship God

(Romans 12:1, EASY)
Posted in GOD IS WITH YOU, Grace, Humility, OBEDIENCE, Trust, Uplifting Christ

When God Removes His Ladder

Posted on by Uplifting Christ

You happened to be hungry in a field . God was good to help you locate an apple tree but one thing was needed; a ladder. The fruits were beyond your reach and you could neither climb the tree. A passerby saw your desperation and decided to offer his ladder for you to plug some fruits. You got as many as you wanted and thanked him. Case Closed.

credit: 123rf.com

From my analogy, the fruits represent your vision, dreams, desires, targets, etc. The field is the earth and hunger your passion. The ladder represents opportunities, connections, ideas, favor, etc that come your way to help you achieve your dreams.

Everyone Needs a Ladder:

Everyone needs a Ladder to be successful. In fact, self-made billionaires got ladder(s) before reaching their respective heights. On critical point is that Ladders don’t come by themselves but they are provided or offered by Someone. You will never own a ladder but even if you do, the world changes so fast that what was good yesterday might not be relevant for today. This explains the interdependence of nations because no one has it all. We need ladder to be relevant in the world.

The Ultimate Provider of Ladder:

God is the producer of ladders but He distributes them through people and/or events. Sometimes He works through Angels. The scripture says that God “lifts the poor from the dust and the needy from the garbage dump” (Psalm 113:7). This uplifting is done them by providing a ladder for them to climb. Think about this, Heroes in the Bible had ladders from God.

Today, I can tell you on God’s authority that He has provided a ladder need to climb to the height he destined you to be. Take no credit for it but always recognize that every good thing you see in your life is the doing of the Lord.

Basic Requirements to hang onto God’s Ladder:

  • God requires you to continue your Trust in Him, to Obey Him, and to be Humble. I see these three as the basic requirements although you could add some more.
    • “Blessed [with spiritual security] is the man who believes and trusts in and relies on the Lord And whose hope and confident expectation is the Lord. ( Jeremiah 7:7, AMP)
    • Behold, today I am setting before you a blessing and a curse— the blessing, if you listen to and obey the commandments of the Lord your God, which I am commanding you today (Deut 11:26-27)
    • Humble yourselves [with an attitude of repentance and insignificance] in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you [He will lift you up, He will give you purpose]. (James 4:10, AMP)

What if you do otherwise:

  • Thus says the Lord, “Cursed is the man who trusts in and relies on mankind, Making [weak, faulty human] flesh his strength, And whose mind and heart turn away from the Lord. (Jeremiah 17:7, AMP)
  • “Behold, today I am setting before you a blessing and a curse— and the curse, if you do not listen to and obey the commandments of the Lord your God, but turn aside from the way which I am commanding you today, by following (acknowledging, worshiping) other gods which you have not known. (Deut 11:26,28, AMP)
  • Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall. (Proverbs 16:18, AMP)

When God removes His Ladder:

God isn’t in business of removing ladders but when He removes His ladder, the consequences are dire. Take a look at the photo below and consider what would happen if the other guy removes the ladder?

credit: chrismadden.co.uk

Again, God isn’t in the business of removing ladders but if you give Him the reason(s) to, He would. David recognized what could become of him if God removed His ladder so he prayed “Do not banish me from your presence, and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me”. Nebuchadnezzar went to the forest for 7 years, Moses missed the promised land, the Kingdom was taken from Saul’s family, Israel went into captivity, etc.

Friend everything you desire to achieve is within reach. As you have thought about, It Is Possible. However, your prolong success depends on how tight you hold to Him; Trust Him, Obey Him, and Humble yourself in all things. He will do you good. Bless you!

Posted in Humility, Uplifting Christ

Guard against PRIDE (1 min read)

Posted on by Uplifting Christ

A man’s pride will bring him low, but he who is of a humble spirit will obtain honor. (Proverbs 29:23 AMP)

Pride is excessive confidence in one’s own worth or abilities. It will interest you to know that God has strong sanctions against pride because He wants you to have confidence in Him, and not in our own abilities.

 

In 2 Chronicles 21, satan incited David to take a census. Taking the census wasn’t against God’s law but his motive was wrong. David took pride in his army. He thought he had enough men for battle and forgot that his strength was from above. This was sin in the sight of God so He sent an angel to kill 70000 people. 70000 people were killed because of David’s pride. Pride goes before destruction, and haughtiness before a fall. (Proverbs 16:18 NLT)

“I am the Lord; that is my name! I will not give my glory to anyone else, nor share my praise with carved idols. (Isaiah 42:8 NLT)

Friend your pride will bring you low. Don’t put your confidence in your family, your bank balance, business, houses, cars, etc. and/or even think your own wisdom, strength, and power fetched you what you have. But Remember the Lord your God. He is the one who gives you power to be successful, in order to fulfill the covenant he confirmed to your ancestors with an oath. (Deuteronomy 8:18 NLT)

Pride can

  • cause the collapse of your business
  • cause the death of the person you love
  • make you lose your number one client
  • make you lose what you have worked for all the days of your life

Remember that 70000 people died because David had wrong motive for taking census.

When you have eaten your fill, be sure to praise the Lord your God for the good land he has given you. “But that is the time to be careful! Beware that in your plenty you do not forget the Lord your God and disobey his commands, regulations, and decrees that I am giving you today. For when you have become full and prosperous and have built fine homes to live in, and when your flocks and herds have become very large and your silver and gold have multiplied along with everything else, be careful! Do not become proud at that time and forget the Lord your God, who rescued you from slavery in the land of Egypt. He did all this so you would never say to yourself, ‘I have achieved this wealth with my own strength and energy.’ “But I assure you of this: If you ever forget the Lord your God and follow other gods, worshiping and bowing down to them, you will certainly be destroyed. (Deuteronomy 8:10-14, 17, 19 NLT)