Humiliation & Exaltation

“Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”

-Matthew 23:12

Exalted Christ, who humbled himself until death to exalt the downtrodden, the weak and the sinful,

How I have hated your exaltation and despised its grace. How I have preferred the esteem of men. Truly you have told us that we all face a humiliation and an exaltation. One of these is from men and the other, from you. I confess that I am far too eager to exalt myself, to inflate my own importance, and to sneer at the thought of learning from anyone. Thus I am to receive from you lessons in humility, that is a humiliation. Like everything else you do, you conduct these lessons perfectly and for our good, that your wayward children may learn to imitate you more perfectly.

Still, let me seek the better portion: humiliation among men. If I have suffered a little shame in this life, it will be for a glory beyond compare in your consummated kingdom. Let me not deny my cross; let me not despise the shame of Christ. Rather, let me accept his sufferings and humiliation with gladness that I may also accept his glory (1 Pet 4:13). For although you emptied yourself, your Father has exalted you most highly and given you the name most high (Phil 2:5-11).

How much greater is the shame of those whom you bring to it than those brought to shame by men. How much greater are the riches of your love and esteem than the feeble contrivances and pretensions of man. May your Spirit call the truths of your word to my memory always. Forgive me my short sightedness. I ask of your Father by your Spirit and in the name above all others, Jesus Christ’s. Amen.

Doxology

Come, lift your hearts on high; Alleluia! Amen! let praises fill the sky; Alleluia! Amen! He is our Guide and Friend; to us He’ll condescend; His love shall never end: Alleluia! Amen!-Come Christians, Join to Sing by Christian H Bateman