DON’T STOOP TO THEIR LEVEL
“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” Philippians 2:5-8
“Don’t stoop to their level, my loved one taught me,” a friend shared with me as we talked about how to address the challenge we all face at one time or another of people hurting us. Immediately, the Holy Spirit of God moved in my heart and showed me an awesome Truth concerning that expression that I had never considered. It is true we should never stoop to the level of someone who hurts us; we should stoop lower!
“Think about Jesus Christ on the cross,” I told my friend. “He stooped lower than anyone could possibly go. That is how far we need to stoop,” I said, shocked and moved by the message the Lord had given me to share with my friend.
Countless times in the Bible, God commands us to humble ourselves. When Jesus Christ hung on the cross, He willingly, voluntarily, knowingly, submissively, obediently took on the wrath of God almighty for every single sin humanity has ever, is ever, and will ever commit. He stooped lower than any human can even conceive of let alone comprehend. He lowered Himself lower than anyone has ever gone so that He would bear the penalty for our sins. What does God tell us to do? To lower ourselves, to love, to forgive, to show mercy, and to serve Him by laying down our lives for humanity.
The world teaches us we should raise ourselves up in pride, and that self-righteous anger, judgment, condemnation, etc. is perfectly okay. The Lord does not call us to raise ourselves up and look down on the world, but to do as Jesus did and lower ourselves all the way down and to humbly extend the love and forgiveness He so graciously gives us. How? by His grace, in His strength, for His glory!