James 1:9-11

"Let the lowly brother glory in his exaltation, but the rich in his humiliation, because as a flower of the field he will pass away.  For no sooner has the sun risen with a burning heat than it withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beautiful appearance perishes.  So the rich man also will fade away in his pursuits."

                                             glory in Christ, not myself

                Who do you most identify with in this passage?  And why?  Whatever we may appear to be in the eyes of the world, lowly or rich, our true status is determined by our relationship to God.  Where is the lowly brother’s exaltation?  It is in his belonging to God in Christ.   The lowly brother knows need and seeks peace.   Where is the rich man’s humiliation?  Perhaps it is shown in the comparison of the temporary nature of the earth’s goods with the eternal nature of God the Creator.   He may be one who “has it all” but he still seeks peace.  Our status before God is far, far different than our status before the world.  For all of us, our only secure identification, our only avenue to peace is in Jesus.

                Are you bogged down by what you lack?  Be lifted up in the spiritual reality of belonging to God and having a future inheritance in His kingdom! Are you walking in a fleeting confidence because of favorable circumstances?  Take note, and be humble, for the comforts and riches of this world are temporary and ever changing!   Jesus said that whoever humbles himself will be exalted, and whoever exalts himself will be humbled.  (Matt.23:12)

                Is your ‘glass’ half-full or is it half-empty?  Either way, the thing we glory in and dwell upon, is not the present state but the fact that in Christ, our cup is in the process of being filled, and will one day be completely spilling over.

                Read and Pray: Isaiah 40:6-7, Isaiah 55:6-11, Phil.3:8-10