God's Way

“Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” —Philippians 2:9–11

 

How things work is fairly irrelevant to me – only that they do work.  This is a good truth to remember when considering God’s ways!  Remember Joseph’s long difficult journey to prominence in Egypt?  Scripture’s account of abduction, slavery, and imprisonment makes us anticipate a poor ending for Joseph.  God often chooses to display His power in [otherwise] apparent defeat.  In this Advent season, consider Jesus: humbles Himself to become flesh-and-blood, assumes the role of a servant, becomes a prisoner, and is executed yet God [highly] exalts Him – giving Him the Name above all names and declares all will eventually bow to Him!  “The way up is down.  The way forward is backward.” (John Piper, Good News of Great Joy).   What man meant for evil – God meant for good (Genesis 50:20).  It’s the model for Christians today: too many to count suffer for their faith – persecuted even killed.  With spiritual eyes let us see present sufferings as “divinely appointed setbacks” which lead to Godly victory.  “You fearful saints fresh courage take – The clouds you so much dread – Are big with Mercy and will break – In Blessings on your head.”