One Giant Leap
Weeping might last for a night, but joy will come in the morning, says the inspired Psalmist (Psalm 30). And so it was for the Lord Jesus Christ. His four steps downwards into personal self-sacrifice were followed by one giant leap upwards, "Therefore God exalted him."
Before we explore exaltation, let's ponder the landscape of this move, for it is God's universal way of working.
Suffering is base camp
Let me put it this way. In the Christian life and in Christian ministry suffering is base camp. Before any hill is climbed, before any great work is done, before any spiritual growth emerges, there is always suffering: it must be so, for "Unless a seed falls into the ground and dies it bears no fruit." (John 12).
From time to time you will meet Christians who wonder why their lives or ministries have been unfruitful. Little has been acheived over years - and even over decades. The deep reason may be plain to those around them: they served the easy way, which often meant their own way. No long nights, no tears, no poverty, no giving until it hurts for them. They served when it suited their personal or family or pleasure schedule, gave only when they had plenty to spare, prayed only when it came easy and worked only until they were feeling a wee bit tired.
And they wonder why their lives bore no fruit!
Suppose Jesus had done the same. When crowds pressed to him and he was personally tired, he just sent them away. When the disciples failed him, he took the path of least resistance and said nothing rather than the cost of correcting them. And just suppose he had called out to angels in the garden of Gethsemane.
The wisdom of God is no guts, no glory. There is something about this fallen world and the power of God working through weakness and the glory of God being seen in weak vessels that requires this principle. It is not a love of suffering for suffering's sake, it is not masochism and it is not stoicism.
Summing it all Up
Let's rejoice that sorrow only lasts for a night and then there is joy in the morning. Remember what Paul is teaching us? When we are prepared to die to ourselves for the sake of others, then fruit comes, then glory comes, then salvation comes.
"Humble yourselves under God's mighty hand that he might lift you up in due time." (1 Peter 5:6)
Someone reading this blog is on the verge of glory, the morning is coming, and coming soon!
Someone else is still waiting in the valley.
And someone else needs to learn this principle of personal self-sacrifice, whether in time, money, prayers or service - knowing that it, and it alone, is the Royal Road to exaltation.
A SONG FOR THE DAY
A new song to me from Psalm 30 whose words I cannot find anywhere. You can enjoy it HERE.
A PRAYER FOR THE DAY
Our all-wise Father in heaven,
We thank you that your ways are not our ways or the world's ways. We would always choose ease over hardship, calm over adversity and glory without suffering.
We thank you that your Royal Road to exaltation is through humbling. We thank you for this lesson learnt from your Son.
We worship our risen, ascended and exalted Saviour today and pray that we would humble ourselves likewise.
In Christ's Name we pray,
Amen
Photo by Kiril Dobrev on Unsplash
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