Good morning and welcome in everybody. Today, we are going to take a look at a passage of scripture, but before we do that, I wanted to tell you a little story.
One morning, an older gentleman went into a local grocery store to see if he could get a job. They told him that they were in need of somebody to sweep floors and stock shelves. He told them that he would be fine with those types of duties, and they hired him right on the spot. The next day he began to work, learning the ropes from all of the other seasoned employees. He worked very hard, and found favor in the sight of the grocery manager. He helped out for the entire summer, and then finally put in his two weeks notice so he could move out of the state. It wasn’t until the following summer that the owner of the small grocery store recognized the employees picture in an article of a popular business magazine. It was only then that he realized that the employee whom he had previously employed, was actually the owner of the entire grocery chain.
This reminds me of the Christian Life.
Humility is a quality that not many people possess. When Jesus came to this earth, He looked just like everybody else. They couldn’t even tell who He was when they came to take Him in the garden of Gethsemane. He wore no special robes, or other things that would outwardly identify Him as the Lord of Heaven and Earth. Like a store manager who left their name tag at home, the King of Kings walked humbly among His own creation.
Philippians 2 ⁵ Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: ⁶ Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: ⁷ But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: ⁸ And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. ⁹ Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: ¹⁰ That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; ¹¹ And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
We live in a world that is driven by appearances. People will flock to places that have the highest steeples, the biggest buildings, and are filled with the most lavish designs. They will attend a religious service because they have the best sound system, the newest equipment, and a great light show. They will even trust and follow people simply because of their fancy robes or the religious garb that they wear, but the Lord Jesus warned about judging by what you see.
“Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.” John 7:24
The devil is a wolf in sheep’s clothing, and depends on outward appearances in order to deceive people. The bigger and more grandiose, the bigger the LIE. This has been going on for thousands of years, and we continue to be inundated with the same type of false religion today. These places claim to be followers of Christ, but are no different than the religious leaders of old, filled and an ostentatious display of complete vanity.
Mark 12 ³⁸ And he said unto them in his doctrine, Beware of the scribes, which love to go in long clothing, and love salutations in the marketplaces, ³⁹ And the chief seats in the synagogues, and the uppermost rooms at feasts:
⁴⁰ Which devour widows’ houses, and for a pretence make long prayers: these shall receive greater damnation.
What did people expect to see when they met John the Baptist? Did they think that he was going to be walking around in ministerial robes or a clerics outfit?
Matthew 11 ⁷ And as they departed, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind?
⁸ But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses. ⁹ But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet.
Matthew 3 ¹ In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, ² And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. ³ For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
⁴ And the same John had his raiment of camel’s hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey. ⁵ Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan, ⁶ And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.
What did you expect to see when they met the Apostle Paul? After all, He looked common, just like everybody else.
“Do ye look on things after the outward appearance? If any man trust to himself that he is Christ’s, let him of himself think this again, that, as he is Christ’s, even so are we Christ’s.” 2 Corinthians 10:7
It’s no wonder why so many people who profess to follow Christ, are not going to be able to make it into heaven. This is because they have spent their lives judging things with their eyes, rather than their hearts. They followed magnificently dressed false prophets and attended cathedrals that are worth more money than some poor communities will ever make in their lives. They were duped into following religious frauds, who told them whatever they wanted to hear, just to keep them in the pew. God doesn’t judge by appearances, so why should you?
“But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7
Everything that has ever been created belongs to God, but He became poor so that we could become rich in Spiritual things.
“For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.” 2 Corinthians 8:9
In the Bible, the word condescend can mean to come down to another one’s level. Jesus left the glory of Heaven and came down to this sinful world in hopes of saving His creation. He was not seeking fame, although it followed Him. He was not seeking Glory, although He deserves it. He came to seek and to save the lost, and lead them on the path to eternal life. He is our Divine example of servant leadership, that each of us must humbly follow.
“Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.” Romans 12:16
A lot of wealthy business owners are not going to dig out a shovel and get down in the mud with their new employees. But it’s such an incredible thing to think that God’s only Begotten Son walked away from the glory of Heaven, in order to come down to this sinful world, and help us out. People were eye to eye with the creator of the world, and some of them never even knew it. Like a king dressed as a peasant, or a prince as a pauper, He took upon himself the form of a servant.
Sometimes, it makes me wonder what you would think, if you found out that the owner of a multi-million dollar grocery store chain was working as a clerk, stocking shelves, and ……..
…….Bagging Groceries
Let’s think about these things for right now. We can be found on your web browser by searching, tlkjbc where you can find our diaries distributed through various platforms. We are not associated, nor affiliated with any other religious groups. You can get our entire podcast feeds directly, along with transcripts at tlkjbc.com or I suppose that you could find us somewhere up here, in the Great Northern Minnesota woods. Peace to you all, and Lord willing, we will talk with you some more tomorrow. Till then, bye bye everybody.❤️
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