Introductory Thoughts
The Bible repeatedly emphasizes that honour follows humility! But how does this work? According to our passage, “whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.” Abased means to be brought low, while exalted means to be elevated. Matthew 23:12 and Luke 18:14 reiterate the truth found in Luke 14:11, yet none of the verses expound upon how this takes place. What or who is at work behind the scenes to make this principle true? The answer is found in James 4:10—“Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.” Man’s finite mind-set leads him to think that the way up is up and the way down is down; but according to the Bible, the opposite is true. The way up (to be exalted) is down (through humility) and the way down (to be abased) is up (self-exaltation). Those who seek to be exalted by others will find themselves frustrated through their own efforts; yet those who seek humility will be exalted by God.
Devotional Thoughts
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(For children): The Bible proclaims that David was a man after God's own heart. He strove to follow and obey the Lord. Yet, when he disobeyed, he was sorry for his sin (Psalm 38:18). God elevated this boy who watched sheep and exalted him to become king of Israel.
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(For everyone): Do you desire for the Lord to exalt you? How does the Bible teach us to receive this blessing? Are you willing to humble yourself before God?
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Are you willing to live your life according to Gods plans or have you determined to do things your own way? Will you humble yourself and allow Him to exalt you?
Prayer Thoughts
- Ask God to soften your heart toward Him.
- Ask the Lord to teach you how to do things His way.
Song
Alone With God
