Continuing to focus on how our Heavenly Father’s perspective differs in relation to finite “intelligent” men of this World, today we come to yet another subject (penultimate part of the Series)…
Lofty…
In the sight of Perfect One, the one who is lowly is the lofty one. Consider this Scripture…
“The greatest among you will be your servant…” (Matt 23:11)
Time we dare to re-phrase the “Leadership Training” programs in the Church as “Leadership training in Servant hood”? Yes! Oh to have the mind of the One who washed His disciples’ feet and to think like Him always (John 13:4-14/Philippians 2:5)!!!
Time also for “reverse-ageing” in the Spiritual realm…Consider this Scripture, looking at it very closely:
“And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” (Matt 18:2-3)
In an individual’s life, after conversion (being made anew in Christ — See John 3:3/2 Cor 5:17) starts the process of becoming more and more Child-like as the indwelling Holy Spirit starts chipping away at the rough edges of his pride, self-reliance and manipulative tendencies making him flesh-out in increasing measure the Scripture portion “not by your strength or by your might but by My Spirit” (Zech 4:6) so that on the day of reckoning when he is presented to Him (Eph 4:30) we would come across as one with a total Child-like heart (the one of Adam before the Fall which was all about having child-like trust on the Father exuding absolute humility in the process). Mind you, my observations on becoming more and more child-like need to be tempered with 1 Cor 14:20 …the Lord wants us to become more and more simple by the day…not simpletons!
Are we on the mark in the matter of spiritual reverse aging process or far off the mark in the Master’s eyes? Time to introspect…and submit to the leading of the Spirit (Gal 5:16)!
While on the subject of becoming from “big to small”, permit me also to state that even though it is as difficult for the high and lofty rich ones’ to enter Heaven as it is for the camel to enter the eye of the needle for invariably it is in the rich we observe detestable pride, cocky self-reliance and a crafty manipulative disposition, it is certainly not impossible with God (Matt 19:26) to effect the “necessary salutary changes” in them. In the hands of the Master Sculptor- the patient and persevering Holy Spirit — in due course of time they (rich ones after being born again) would be “cut down to size” for their own good so as to “pass through the eye of the needle” with ease. Oh to view “growing” and “pruning” process, as the Heavenly Father views it!
Prayer: Father, oh how we desire to become lowly Thy sight. We know the process of shaping us into Your Son’s image can sometimes be very painful. Empower us from within to cope-up with the same. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Suresh Manoharan
An unworthy servant
J and SM Ministries
(To access the entire 20/20 Vision mini-series, please click here.)