September 21, 2004

Sent Down

Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time. —1 Peter 5:6

Bible In One Year: Ecclesiastes 7-9; 2 Corinthians 13

A sportswriter described former major league baseball player and manager Don Baylor as a person who always remembered how it felt to be "sent down" to the minor leagues. When one of his players had to be demoted, he would always meet with him to explain the decision. A team owner said of Baylor, "He has been through a lot of life lessons he can share with the players." It makes a big difference when the manager knows how a player feels.

It's always humbling to be reduced in rank, privilege, or responsibility. But these things may come as part of God's training in our lives. The apostle Peter wrote, "'God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.' Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time" (1 Peter 5:5-6).

The apostle Paul described Jesus as our example of humble submission to God. He was sent down from heaven to become a man—a "bondservant" who was obedient to the point of dying on the cross for our sins (Philippians 2:6-8).

Humility and submission to God are not signs of weakness but evidence of Christlike power and character. We can receive courage and strength from Jesus Himself, who knows how it feels to be "sent down." —David McCasland

Teach me to do the humble task
The very best I can,
And not to look for greater calls,
Which may oppose Thy plan. —Bernheisel

The mighty Architect of the universe became the humble Carpenter of Nazareth.