JOHN 7:18
"He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who seeks the glory of the One who sent Him is true, and no unrighteousness is in Him.
Authority is established in this world, coming in many varieties and degrees. There is political authority, economic, academic and many other manifestations. Ultimately however all (true) authority comes from GOD (PSA 62:11; REV 19:1).
GOD designates power and authority according to His good pleasure and will judge both the angelic and human races for how they handled that authority. Those who handle such power responsibly as faithful stewards and in accordance with His will shall be rewarded.
Lucifer was likely the greatest, most powerful creation that GOD ever made. Yet what GOD had given him (his beauty, power, wisdom, jurisdiction) wasn’t good enough for this cherub; he wanted more. He stretched out his hand to snatch greater power that he felt he was worthy of (he actually believed he was GOD’s equal!).
His sin was pride and to feed that pride he sought his own glory, above the astonishing glory GOD had already given him (and Lucifer attributed those gifts of GOD as something inherent in himself which led him to self-exaltation).
“[Those] who speaks of [themselves]” are elevating their own sense of authority and, or power – and even doctrine (that is, teaching) inappropriately, above and beyond what was given to them by GOD.
In the sense of doctrine, the LORD gave His Word, His doctrine to us in His special revelation, the Holy Scriptures, but in blatant pride, Satan created his own doctrine, promoted by his own kingdom of darkness, and readily received by false religious authorities (MATT 16:6; 1 TIM 4:1).
Everything that motivates Satan is solely for his own self-interest and glorification. He craves power, worship, domination and takes far, far more than he gives. Because he is intent on exalting self (ISA 14:13-14; EZEK 28:11-15), GOD will ensure that he is abased, humiliated, shamed (LUKE 14:11) and exposed for the despicable, nefariously evil spirit that he is (ISA 14:9-12,15-19; EZEK 28:15-19; LUKE 10:18; JOHN 12:31; 16:11; REV 12:8-9).
Lucifer’s path towards perdition started in heaven when he captured in his heart the plot of pride (ISA 14:13), then he was expelled for his blasphemy and one day he will end up in Gehenna.
Christ’s path towards perfection started when He of His own free will left the glories of heaven and became a Man and learned obedience by the things that He suffered and in that sense, was “perfected” or completed (HEB 5:8-9).
Unlike Satan, Christ came not to promote and accomplish His own will, but be submissive and humble, seeking to always do the will of the Father (JOHN 5:30). Scripture declares that He was entirely pleasing to His Father (MATT 3:17; 12:18; 17:5; 2 PET 1:17).
There is absolutely nothing right about Satan – he is the author of lies, chaos, full of deception and wickedness, malice and envy, and (literally) hellbent in dragging as many human souls into eternal destruction with him as he possibly can!
Whereas Christ Jesus, because He always did those things that were/are according to the will of the Father (JOHN 8:29), He is entirely righteous in every way, in word and action, coming from a heart of righteousness!
As Christians we are not in this world to build our own private empire, to seek ways that will serve our best interests, to promote and exalt ourselves in an assertive or even aggressive manner. We are followers of Christ Who is our example.
The saints of GOD are here to work in building the kingdom of GOD, to seek ways that will serve the LORD and His interests (MATT 6:33). Our mission as ambassadors of Christ (2 COR 5:20-21) is to promote and exalt Him and His kingdom as priority #1. We have the LORD’s promise that if we serve in such a humble manner then all the necessities (not desires necessarily) will be met, and furthermore we shall receive eternal reward in the everlasting kingdom of which we are citizens!
Consider Christ Jesus’s path towards perfection and His forever destiny at the right hand of the Father!
PHILIPPIANS 2:5-11
5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. 9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Indeed, “LET” us have this same heart, this same attitude, this same will and mind that Christ has – let’s not make a reputation for ourselves but be content in seeing JESUS glorified! He came not to rule over people like some tyrant, but to serve others meekly and with the sole motivation of love!
Just as He died to save us from our sins, let us (daily) take up our cross, die to self and sin (LUKE 9:23) and live for His approval. We should be overjoyed for the honor and privilege and blessing in serving the LORD (COL 3:24)!
May we be encouraged in the knowledge that we have been accepted into the beloved (EPH 1:6), citizens of heaven (PHIL 3:20), and are inheritors of an eternal kingdom that will never pass away (HEB 12:28; DAN 7:18)!
No comments:
Post a Comment