I Yield.

Php 2:3  Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. 

What sort of world would this look like if everyone followed the advice from that verse?  NOTHING being done through STRIFE, NOTHING being done through VAINGLORY. EVERYTHING being done with lowliness of mind, humble, EVERYONE esteeming EVERYONE ELSE better than themselves.

I'm not talking with that bitterness and grudging admittance that someone is better than you while you secretly want to be the one who is better. I'm talking a true, humble, loving comprehension that loving others and considering their worth so valuable that no matter the circumstance they are worth more than you, and worth sacrificing yourself for, that's the kind of esteeming others better than ourselves I'm talking about.

Isn't that what CHRIST JESUS did?

The worth of Christ is so far beyond full comprehension yet He did NOT consider Himself before He considered others. If anyone had a right to consider themselves better than another it would have been Jesus. Yet He spent His ministry here on earth humble, lowly of mind, putting on no airs whatsoever, hobnobbing with the rough rabble and least esteemed in the eyes of others. He did not seek any fame or fortune. He had a tremendous following of over five thousand people (remember this was a much different time no twitter, instagram, facebook, or social media of any kind - uhm, no electricity). He had this huge following and most of them left Him when He revealed that He wasn't there to be made their earthly king, that He wasn't going to raise up an army to fight against the Romans ruling over them. He did not want earthly fame at all!

Jesus wanted people to recognize that hope is found in the truth of the love of God. He wanted people to know that THIS EARTH, THIS LIFE they were now living was NOT all there was to life. Jesus came to tell people of the eternal life that could be theirs once they made it through this temporary life.  Jesus did not tell them it was automatically theirs. That every single human being would make it to the eternal life offered. Remember Jesus said this --

Mat 7:21  Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 

Mat 7:22  Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 

Mat 7:23  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. 

Jesus came preaching the good news of eternal life, the kingdom of heaven, but He outright told people that not everyone who would say to Him that they followed Him and did things in His name would enter into heaven. Jesus is going to tell these people that He never knew them, to get away from Him because they truly work in sin. These people THINK they are His, but they are not.  How many of these self-deceived people along with the blatant haters of Jesus Christ, will not make it into Heaven?

Mat 7:13  Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 

Mat 7:14  Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. 

FEW will find it.

Mat_24:24  For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.

Deceive everyone… but the very elect.

Mat 19:16  And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? 

Mat 19:17  And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. 

Mat 19:18  He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, 

Mat 19:19  Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 

Mat 19:20  The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? 

Mat 19:21  Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. 

Mat 19:22  But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions. 

Mat 19:23  Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. 

Mat 19:24  And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. 

Mat 19:25  When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved? 

Mat 19:26  But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible. 

Mat 19:27  Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore? 

Mat 19:28  And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 

Mat 19:29  And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life. 

Mat 19:30  But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first. 

This kind of brings it right to the point doesn't it?

What priority does God place in our life? Where does Jesus fit into our lives?

We can't imagine forsaking much of anything in our life because we've spent a lifetime accumulating things. We have put so much before Jesus in our lives. I sit surrounded by my earthly treasures, in particular right at this moment I am literally surrounded by most of my Christmas treasures that I store away each year only to bring out the next. Gold (not real but in color), silver, bright and glittering treasures sparkling all around me I can see the sunlight shining on my walls covered in shiny cards and ribbon. Can I imagine forsaking all of this.

Right about now you're saying HOLD UP, STOP, you're not REALLY thinking we need to forsake all that stuff- our family too, are you?

I guess not. But I am asking you as well as myself, to CONSIDER exactly what has the highest priority in our lives. If we were ASKED to leave is all for Christ, would we?  Or are we among the people who tell ourselves that Christ would never ask us to do such a thing, not really, He understands that we can't leave our families and such.

Jesus does NOT want us to leave all and follow Him in the exact same way He told that rich young man. Jesus does want us to follow His teaching first in our lives and that means what?  ESTEEMING ALL OTHERS BEFORE OURSELVES.  If in that esteeming we are called out to a ministry of serving that calls for us to sacrifice earthly ties - then we must do that. Where does God rate in your life? What priority does He have?  If I told you that God wanted you to give 100 dollars to the next homeless person you see, you wouldn't believe me first of all- but even if you had an inkling that maybe God did want you to do that, could you? How near and dear is that 100 dollars to your heart, to your sense of well-being, to your comfort and thought of surviving by supplying your own needs by paying your bills with that money, or buying food and necessities with that money?

This is truth-

Mat_16:26  For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

Mar_8:36  For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?

Luk_9:25  For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?

Mat 16:24  Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 

Mat 16:25  For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. 

Mat 16:26  For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? 

Mat 16:27  For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works. 

Php 2:4  Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. 

Php 2:5  Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 

Php 2:6  Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 

Php 2:7  But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 

Php 2:8  And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 

Php 2:9  Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 

Php 2:10  That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 

Php 2:11  And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. 

God first.

Others second.

Ourselves last.

All through the power of the Holy Spirit.

All through the hope of Jesus Christ.

All through our Heavenly Father's will, and His good pleasure.

I yield. I surrender all.