High and Low

[0:00] A pastor's reflections, high and low.! He that comes from above is above all.

[0:14] ! For thou, Lord, art high above all the earth.

[0:34] Thou art exalted far above all gods. God, who is above all, has no rivals to his place and position.

[0:45] However, that does not stop the sinful heart of man from elevating itself in its own estimation to a place that rivals the very God of the universe. No, the heart of man will never cast down God.

[1:01] But man in his own heart will cast down God's will, God's word, and God's works. Man's pride knows no limits. Psalm 2, verses 2 and 3.

[1:15] The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord, and against his anointed, saying, let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.

[1:29] The reality of God being above all does not just mean that he is the biggest and the greatest, so he should get his way. It means that while, yes, God is the biggest of all, he is also the most gracious, loving, compassionate, and merciful of all.

[1:47] God has no rival in love, no rival in grace, no rival in mercy, and no rival in compassion. There is none who will ever be greater in love than God.

[2:01] However, God is also the greatest in truth, judgment, justice, vengeance, and wrath. There is none who is greater than God's justice, and there is none who in their sin can escape God's wrath.

[2:18] God is the highest and greatest of all gods, all men, all religions, and all truths. And yet God, who is so high, chose to lower himself to the very lowest for the sake of sinful man.

[2:33] Philippians 2.8 The lowering of Jesus has lifted us out of our sin and pride.

[2:53] Having been elevated by God's grace, what then should be our response? Should we feel proud and justified in Jesus' sacrifice on our behalf?

[3:04] No. We should elevate Jesus by lowering ourselves to a place of humility and gratitude before the highest of all. The one who gave his life for me, the lowest of all.

[3:20] Father, we as rescued sinners bow before the highest of all. Thank you that our lowest state did not keep the greatness of your grace from reaching us. Thank you that Jesus chose to become something even lower than us, so that he might raise us to the highest place of all.

[3:39] Your love. Amen.