So many times in life we want to be right, we want to be the winner, we want to be ahead of everyone else. What we must realize and recognize is that God’s system of promotion is exactly the opposite of this world’s system. The Lord Jesus declares in Mark 10:43-44 “...Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave of everyone else.” The Bible also says that God sees everything that is done openly and in secret and He will reward us according to our works. That means we must show someone love when all they have shown us is hate, it means to turn the other cheek when all we want to do is hit back, it means that we go the extra mile to be a blessing even when that one is not deserving of it. What we do openly and in secret God knows about and sees and we will be rewarded in like manner. (Matthew 6:1-18) (Matthew 5:38-48)
No matter our position in life we should remember the words of the Lord. In order to be first we must place ourselves last. Humbling ourselves before God and others shows our meekness, our love, our care and our wish to see others becoming better, wiser and stronger because of our help and assistance. I think of Joseph who stayed faithful to God no matter how wronged he was throughout his life. He was sold into slavery by his own brothers, he was lied about by Potiphar’s wife and wrongfully sent to prison for many years, but one day seeing Joseph’s faithfulness throughout his life, God gave Pharaoh a dream that no man could interpret except Joseph and when he in humility interpreted Pharaoh’s dream, Joseph was made second in command of all of Egypt. He went from the prison to the Palace in a single day. That’s what happens to those who humble themselves. That’s what happens to those who placed themselves last knowing that God will be there to vindicate them, to promote them, to elevate their life to Heights that they never thought would be possible. (Mark 9:33-44) (Genesis 41:8-46)
Be encouraged to be a follower of the words of the Lord. Listen to what the Bible declares in 1 Peter 5:6-7 “Humble yourselves therefore under the Mighty Hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon Him; for He cares for you.” Don’t lose heart the next time someone does you wrong. Don’t feel like getting vengeance because God says vengeance is mine I will repay them. Let God be God and you do what He commands of you. Be a faithful servant of the Lord and you will see God be your advocate, your vindicator, your Palace placer. When we do what is right even when we find it so tough to do, God will honor our faithfulness. God will redeem us, He will strengthen us, He will encourage our hearts and make us know that our life will be used for good no matter how hard the enemy is trying to use it for bad. (Romans 12:19-21) (Hebrews 10:22-25)
Stay strong in the Lord, be faithful until the end knowing that God will never leave us nor forsake us. He is faithful to the end. Let us always be the same with Him.
Read and meditate on these scriptures:
Romans 12:10-16 “Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality. Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. Be of the same mind one toward another...”
Galatians 6:9-10 “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.”
Matthew 5:8-12 Jesus says “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for My sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.”
Romans 15:1-4 “We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification. For even Christ pleased not Himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on Me. For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.”
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| Pope audience while I visited Vatican on 19/4/16 |
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| carry the cross with year of mercy logo towards St Peter Basilica |
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