We live in a culture that says: "to get somewhere in the world we have to put others down and work our way up or exalt ourselves", we've got to "climb the ladder".

After all, isn't it our natural desire to be somebody, to be honoured or to be looked up to by other people? Yes, it is, and many spend their lives seeking for this fame and honour.

But how do we become truly great? How does our way of thinking differ from God's way? He says to us:

Isaiah 55:8-9 For my thoughts [are] not your thoughts, neither [are] your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For [as] the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

God's ways are immeasurably greater and so different, compared to our ways.

So how do we become great in the Kingdom of God? What is God's way?

Jesus says it very simply:

Matthew 23:11-12 But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.
And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.

Matthew 18:4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Doesn't this sound upside-down to our thinking? He that is greatest shall be a servant, whoever exalts himself shall be abased (or humbled) and he that first humbles himself, shall be exalted!

Yes! God's way is totally different from our way, He says to you and me, if we want to be exalted if we want to be great in the kingdom of heaven, we first must humble ourselves as a little child. "the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven"

Is it right for us to want to be exalted? Take a moment to read these next few verses...

Philippians 2:5-8
Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

Did you get what these verses are saying! Imagine the powerful God and creator, Jesus. Who lived in the glorious, brilliant atmosphere of heaven, and came down to this dark, wicked world and made himself of no reputation. He didn't exalt himself one little bit! But He took upon Himself, He chose, the form of a servant! He came to this world in the likeness of man, whom He had actually created in the beginning. And then... He humbled himself even further, and died, as the all powerful creator and God, in the hands of those whom He had created, those whom He loved so much!

Can we find greater humility than this? Jesus had everything in heaven, yet He stepped down, and down and still further down and made himself the lowest of the low, He humbled Himself and died for you and I. Do we see any self exaltation here? Of all people, Jesus could have exalted himself, after all he was God! He was divine! But no, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the death of the cross.

And the bible says to us: "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus" We need to have that same humble mind that Jesus had.

Lets read the next verse:

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

Jesus suffered almost infinite humility because of what He did, and because of this God has highly exalted Him, and has given Him a name which is above every other name!

So dear reader, it is a challenge to all of us to change our way of thinking. The way to really honour and greatness is in being humble, not in exalting our self.

Every time pride tries to rise up in me, I remember Jesus and think "how can I exalt myself?", "how can I puff myself up when Jesus was so much greater than I, and yet humbled himself to such an amazing depth of humility".

1 Peter 5:6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:

The way UP in the kingdom of heaven is DOWN! The way to greatness is to be humble.

And Instead of exalting ourselves, let's exalt Jesus, He is worthy to be exalted!