Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death – even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:3-11.

Have you ever read Scripture and yet was surprised once again because something stood out in a different way? Reading the above Scripture this morning that was referenced in The Chosen 40 Days with Jesus Book Three, I stopped at he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death. God does not die. Our Creator God, the Word, humbled Himself to be made flesh as we are flesh; and as flesh was subject to death – not because of sin but out of great love for us, His children created in His image. Last night we watched The Chosen Season 2 Roundtable discussions. I loved when Rabbi Jason Sobel said that the Beatitudes (Matthew 5) are the reversal of what the world values. Can we sit with that for a bit as we consider all that God does for us in stark contrast to all that we do to one another?

And in our chapter, Ezra 3, I was struck by the notes below: (Solomon’s temple was at the hub of a thriving city; Zerubbabel’s was surrounded by ruins.) The people first built the altar so they could worship God and then began the foundation for the temple built upon the foundation of the first temple. With praise and thanksgiving they sang to the Lord: “He is good; his love toward Israel endures forever.” And all the people gave a great shout of praise to the Lord, because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid. But many of the older priests and Levites and family heads, who had seen the former temple, wept aloud when they saw the foundation of this temple being laid, while many others shouted for joy. v. 11-12.

We see today ruins of cities in Israel and Gaza from war; we see ruins in Ukraine from war. Can we begin to see the ruins of the lies of Satan in this world of hate?

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other. Galatians 5:1, 13-15.

In our chapter they sang out “He is good; his love toward Israel endures forever.” That was sung by Israel when David brought the ark of God and set it inside the tent. In looking at the original verse in 1 Chronicles 16 look at verses 34-36: Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. Cry out, “Save us, God our Savior; gather us and deliver us from the nations, that we may give thanks to your holy name, and glory in your praise.” Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. And verse 28-30: Ascribe to the Lord, all you families of nations, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; bring an offering and come before him. Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness. Tremble before him, all the earth! The world is firmly established; it cannot be moved.

This world lies in the ruins of hate and that hate is strong today. Jesus came not to save Israel from Rome…or the Egyptians, or the Assyrians, or the Persians…or any other Empire today. He came to save all of us from the knowledge of good and evil that is the ruins of Satan’s reality. Are we surprised by God’s love? His love has never left us. His love saves us. When you grow weary of the hate in yourself and in others, turn to Him. Let God surprise you! He’s here. Always. He will not force His love on you. That’s one of the surprising things I am learning in my walk with God. As He has been so gentle with me, so will God be gentle with you. Why? Because He loves us.