Lower Than Angels

Do you seek glory for yourself? Are you seeking to be recognized by large numbers of people? For what are you seeking recognition? Job performance? Brilliance? An invention? Are you seeking to be honored by others? Will you give up your honor for someone else?

We often seek to be recognized by others for a significant accomplishment. We want others to think highly of us. Finding our five minutes of fame, or far more than that, is a lifelong pursuit for many people. They are willing to give up everything to be known by the public.

Though we may seek glory, it is often born out of our desire to be in control. Unfortunately, we are not in control. It is only when we realize God is in control and that we are to submit to him that we will truly live. But it is not just about how we live nor the life we can make for ourselves on this earth. It is about something far greater than that.

Jesus came down from heaven, from a place of pure perfection, to live a human life for roughly thirty-three years so that He would experience what we experience. He knows our feelings, our disappointments, our joys, and our desires. But His main purpose was to suffer a horrible death so that we might have eternal life. In suffering that horrible death He earned a crown of glory greater than any other crown.

I pray we all give up seeking our own glory. I pray we realize God is in control. I pray each one of us know that Jesus came to suffer a death we deserve so we can have eternal life. Stop seeking glory. Know God is in control. Know Jesus suffered a horrible death. Trust He died for your eternal life.

Hebrews 2:8b-9 Now in subjecting all things to them, God left nothing outside their control. As it is, we do not yet see everything in subjection to them, but we do see Jesus, who for a little while was made lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.

Superior to Angels

What is you view of Jesus? What is your opinion of Him? Do you view Him as a friend? A brother? A genie who fulfills wishes? Or do you see Him as Almighty God? Someone who keeps His promises? Do you view Him as being majestic? Do you believe He is superior to everyone?

Our viewpoints of Jesus vary. They may vary from one day to the next. When we are in trouble, we may view Him as someone who can saves us. When we are happy, we may view Him as our brother. When we are in need, we may think of Him as our provider.

Though it may be understandable to view Jesus as different based on our circumstances, we must never lose the image of Him as Almighty God. He sits on a throne in heaven. He is majestic in appearance and presence. He is superior to all the angels. He is superior to any and every human being. His name is above all names.

Jesus showed us who God is in human form when He walked this earth. He showed us how to have compassion on our fellow humans. He showed us how to look toward things that are permanent rather than things that are temporary. He showed us how we should prioritize our lives to serve God. We must remember that Jesus can be viewed in many ways, but always remember He is far superior to all of us.

I pray we all have our different viewpoints of Jesus. I pray we continue to remember Jesus is God. I pray each one of us can picture Him as a majestic King sitting on His throne in heaven. See Jesus from different viewpoints. Remember He is God. See Him as King of kings and Lord of lords. See Him as majestic.

Hebrews 1:3-4 He is the reflection of God’s glory and the exact imprint of God’s very being, and he sustains all things by his powerful word. When he had made purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.

Prophets and Son

Do you have questions about how God communicates or has communicated? Do you find it difficult to believe God talks directly to people? Are you unsure about God speaking to the prophets of the Old Testament? Are you willing to believe his Son?

Many people in our world have a difficult time thinking God talks with people. If they are not followers of Jesus, it is an understandable point of view. But some followers of Jesus find it difficult to believe in today’s world, even if they believe God spoke to the prophets of old.

Perhaps because it is hard to believe for anyone who has not experienced is the one of the lesser reasons God sent his Son to be a human and walk this earth. By sending his Son, God did not diminish the fact he talked directly to the prophets of old. Nor did he diminish the fact that he still talks with people occasionally today. But by sending Jesus, God makes it a firsthand conversation between flesh and flesh.

Lest we think Jesus is nothing more than a messenger Himself, notice what the writer of Hebrews states about Him. It was through Jesus the worlds were created. By the way, notice that word is plural. Every planet in the universe was created through Jesus. Not only were they created through Him, but everything on every planet was created through Him. We sometimes forget that Jesus is God, one third of the Trinity. He has all the power of God. Therefore, we can trust Him to fulfill every promise.

I pray we all trust that God speaks to people. I pray we know Jesus came to earth to show us God’s image. I pray each one of us know that everything that has been created was created through Jesus. Trust that God speaks to people. Know that Jesus is the image of God. Know that Jesus is God. Know that everything was created through Jesus.

Hebrews 1:1-2 Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom he also created the worlds.

The Lesson of Job

What is your normal reaction when things go awry? Do you react with strong negative emotions? Does your reaction change the situation? Do your negative emotions continue to build on themselves, getting worse? Have you considered a different way to react?

When things go bad, we often react negatively. When things go from bad to worse, our countenance falls to the floor. We may reach the point of giving up. We may be beyond consolation. Yet, there is another way, a better way to react to such circumstances.

Job was a man who lost everything but his wife and his home. He was a very rich man. His five hundred oxen and five hundred donkeys were taken by thieves and many of his servants were killed. His seven thousand sheep were destroyed. His three thousand camels were stolen. His three daughters and seven sons were killed. Only a few of his servants escaped the destruction to report to him what had happened.

Job was hit hard. He was in anguish. He wept. And he worshiped. Though Job had lost nearly everything, he did not blame God. Can you imagine having to bury 10 of your children on the same day? Job not only had to do that, but had seen the wealth he had built over the course of his life disappear.

When things go badly for us, we may experience anguish. But that doesn’t mean we should blame God for our situation. Instead, we should bow to God in worship. We should trust that God is still in control. It may be painful for a while, but God has something good planned for us. God may not double our wealth as he did for Job, but he will provide for us. It will only be later, when we look back over time, that we will see how God has worked in our lives.

I pray we all learn the lesson of Job. I pray we trust God to provide in all circumstances. I pray each one of us will choose to worship God in all circumstances, trusting he is in control. Worship God. Trust God. Know he is always with you. Know he will provide for you.

Job 2:9-10 Then his wife said to him, “Do you still persist in your integrity? Curse God, and die.” But he said to her, “You speak as any foolish woman would speak. Shall we receive the good at the hand of God, and not receive the bad?” In all this Job did not sin with his lips.

Who Will You Choose?

How do you view Satan? Does he scare you? Are you afraid of what he may do? Does your fear cause you to bend to his will? Are you tired of living in fear? Have you considered that Satan must answer to God? Do you know that by trusting God you have no reason to fear Satan?

Despite how the movies portray him, Satan is not red with horns and carries a pitchfork. He doesn’t appear as a monster as some movies want to portray him. He is far more cunning than that. He likes to portray himself as someone we can trust.

But Satan must answer to God. We see early in the book of Job that Satan presented himself before God. When God summons him, he has no choice. Satan knows he must submit to God’s governance. He knows he has lost the war with God. His desire is simple. He wants to steal as many people as he can from God. He does that by fooling them, luring them, and tricking them to come to him rather than God.

When we allow ourselves to fall for Satan’s tricks, we lose. If you are like me, you don’t like to lose. The only way to win is to choose God rather than Satan. The battles occur every day. They come as little battles and big battles. Yet, they are all battles, and we have a choice. We can choose to fall for Satan’s schemes, or we can choose to trust in God. Every moment of every day is a choice. Who will we choose?

I pray we all realize Satan must submit to God. I pray we lose our fear of Satan. I pray each one of us will choose to trust in God rather than fall for Satan’s foolish tricks and schemes. Do not fear Satan. Know he must submit to God. Trust God. Know he is always with you. Know God is in control.

Job 2:1 One day the heavenly beings came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them to present himself before the Lord.

Power of Prayer

Where do you turn when you are in need? Do you seek out family, friends, or co-workers? Have you ever considered asking someone you consider an enemy? Are you surprised by that question? What if that is where you need to seek healing?

We all need help. Some of us are less reliant on help than others. Yet, we all have to accept help at various times during our lives. It is when the help comes from an unexpected source that we are surprised. Especially if it comes from someone we do not like.

James tells us prayer is powerful. But we should take notice of what he says just before that. He talks about healing the sick through prayer and faith. We may experience physical healing through prayer. But let’s consider spiritual healing rather than physical healing.

Spiritual healing certainly comes through prayer and our relationship with Jesus. James says we are to confess our sins, then he says to pray for one another. Is it a coincidence he uses that order? I think not. I believe he is saying that we should confess to those we have sinned against, then they are to pray for us, and healing is experienced by both parties.

That sounds like the early church. It sounds like the church that met every day in the first century. It sounds like the small groups John Wesley organized. It sounds like something God would desire us to do today. We might reconsider how we go about prayer and spiritual healing.

I pray we all confess and ask for forgiveness from one another. I pray we pray for one another. I pray each one of us will experience the spiritual healing that comes from confession and prayer over us. Confess to God. Ask God for forgiveness. Pray for physical healing. Pray for spiritual healing.

James 5:16 Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective.

Reactions

How do you react when things go wrong? What are your thoughts when you have an illness? How do you feel when you can’t pay your bills? How do you react when something great happens? What do you think when an unexpected windfall happens?

Our feelings and reactions can go from one extreme to the other, depending on the situation. When things are not going well, we can be in the dumps, looking to blame someone, and maybe blame God. When things are going great, we enjoy it and like to take credit for it.

But how should we react? James tells us how. When things are not going well, when we are sick, when we are struggling, when it seems the whole world is against us, we should pray. Telling God how we are feeling, asking why, asking him to step in, and even venting to God should be our reaction. God knows what we are going through, but he wants us to talk to him.

When things are moving along well, when we have plenty of money, when we are in love, when everything seems to fall in place, we should sing praises to God. Rather than taking credit for our good fortunes, we are to praise God for his blessings. After all, every good thing we have and every good thing that happens to us is from God.

It is easy for us to say how we should react. It is harder to do so in both types of situations. When we are down in the dumps, we often don’t look up. We merely keep trying harder and sometimes continue to dig the hole deeper. When everything is going well, our pride takes over and we take credit for it. We must remember that God is always at work in our lives, and he never leaves us.

I pray we all spend time in prayer. I pray we take time to sing praises to God. I pray each one of us knows God is always with us, always working in our lives, and always wants to hear from us. Spend time in prayer. Sing God’s praises. Know God is always with you. Know God is always working. Know God will listen to you.

James 5:13 Are any among you suffering? They should pray. Are any cheerful? They should sing songs of praise.

Be Salty

Are you salty? What does it mean to be salty? Are you using a current definition for being salty? Do you know what it meant two-thousand years ago? Do you think you would have been considered salty two-thousand years ago? Would you be at peace if you were salty?

In today’s vernacular, being salty means you are upset or angry. As a Marine, being salty means you have extensive experience. If we meet one of these definitions, it is not good. If we meet the other, it can be good. But neither of these definitions were used by the first century church.

Jesus says we are to be salty according to the meaning used two-thousand years ago by the early church. He means we are to provide a positive flavor or seasoning to the world. After all, do we not put salt on the vegetables and meats we fix for our dinner’s, so they taste better? We do. We put salt on almost every food and in every dish we make. We even put salt into cakes.

Making the world a better place, having a positive impact on those we encounter, is what Jesus intends with His statement. Additionally, it is by going through our own trials that we can offer valuable advice to others when they are going through trials. Therefore, when we are going through difficult times, we should seek to learn all we can. By learning and sharing what we learn, we become the salt that seasons properly as Jesus wants us to do.

I pray we all seek to learn lessons from our trials. I pray we understand what it means to be salty by Jesus’ definition. I pray each one of us will be a positive influence on everyone we encounter. Learn from trials. Use Jesus’ salty definition. Be a positive influence. Have a positive impact.

Mark 9:49-50 “For everyone will be salted with fire. Salt is good; but if salt has lost its saltiness, how can you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”

Stumbling Block

Has someone caused you to stumble? Have you caused someone else to stumble? Are you currently causing someone to stumble? What is the penalty for causing someone to stumble? Have you thought about it? Is it too scary to think about? Why do we cause others to stumble?

Causing someone to stumble purposely is a shameful act. It is all about our own selfish desires and having low self-esteem. We mistakenly think that tripping someone else up makes us look better. If we are honest with ourselves, it doesn’t make us feel better either.

Jesus tells us that being a stumbling block for others is not what we should be…for our own good. He says it would be better if we were to tie a big stone around our neck and be thrown into the sea. Can you imagine trying to swim with a large stone tied around your neck? You’re right, you couldn’t. You would drown.

Why does Jesus use such a graphic depiction? When we purposely cause others to stumble, we will drown. Not in water. We will drown in negativity that comes from others, our own guilt (whether now or later), and we may never recover. Being a stumbling block is something we should avoid.

But Jesus isn’t talking about tripping someone up on their way to an interview for their dream job. He is talking about causing them to stumble, and perhaps not getting up again, in their walk of faith. That is the most damning thing we can do. Essentially, when we cause someone to stumble in their faith, we are standing in their way in obtaining a healthy faith and relationship with God. Or, more bluntly, we are opposing God’s will. Rather than being a stumbling block, we should all be encouragers.

I pray we all refuse to be a stumbling block. I pray we choose to encourage one another. I pray each one of us will help others in their walk of faith and stand with God rather than opposing him. Do not be a stumbling block. Encourage one another. Help others with their faith. Stand with God.

Mark 9:42 “If any of you put a stumbling block before one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be better for you if a great millstone were hung around your neck and you were thrown into the sea.”

Rewards for Serving

How thankful are you? Do you recognize what others do for you? Have you ever thought back over a day and tried to identify everything little thing one person or another has done for you? Have you taken it a step farther to identify those things people have done for you because you are a follower of Christ?

We often take for granted what others do for us. It may be a simple thing like making the coffee in the morning, making copies of a document, or allowing us to watch our favorite television show. It may be much more elaborate. It may be even more challenging to know if they did it for us because we follow Jesus.

If your spouse loves you because you follow Jesus, then it is likely everything done for you by him or her is done because of it. They may not even recognize it every time they do something. The same is true for you. The reason behind the serving one another is Christ, even if we don’t recognize it. There is a reward for that.

The reward is both now and in heaven. The reward we receive now is temporary. We feel a bit of satisfaction for serving someone else. It is nice to bless someone else. In turn, the other person may appreciate it enough to bless us. It turns into a symbiotic relationship of blessings. Our reward in heaven is unknown. Jesus doesn’t tell us just what it is. But we can rest assured in His promise.

Yet, we should not serve others for the purpose of receiving a reward. We should serve others to be like Jesus. Keeping the reward in the back of our isn’t bad, but it shouldn’t be our motivation. Jesus let’s us know in this short saying that there are rewards for serving, whether we are serving others, or they are serving us.

I pray we all know Jesus keeps His promises. I pray we know there are rewards for serving others. I pray each one of us strive to be more like Jesus, regardless of the promised rewards. Serve one another. Know there are rewards. Strive to be like Jesus. Know Jesus keeps His promises.

Mark 9:41 “For truly I tell you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you bear the name of Christ will by no means lose the reward.”