A Glorious Promise for Wood Choppers

In 1881, a young black man walked through an exclusive neighborhood in Tuskegee, Alabama.  He was stopped by a wealthy white woman.  She asked him, "Would you like to earn a few dollars chopping wood."

The young black man had nothing better to do at that moment.  "Sure!" He smiled, rolled up his sleeves, and got busy.

As he chopped wood, a young servant girl came around the corner and looked at the young man. He lifted the ax and swung it down hard splitting the log from tip to stern.  Something about him seemed so familiar.

When the wood was split wood stacked neatly, the young man dusted off his hands and walked back to his office at Tuskegee Institute.

The next morning, the wealthy woman hurried to the strong young man's office. Her servant girl had told her that the man she had hired to chop wood was Booker T. Washington, the new President of this growing institution.  "I am so sorry.  I didn't know it was you I put to work."

"It's perfectly all right, Madam.  Occasionally I enjoy a little manual labor.  Besides, it's always a delight to do something for a friend."

This is what Jesus did.

• He laid aside the glory clothes and wrapped himself in flesh.
• He refused to take hold of was rightly his and embraced the life of a poor carpenter's son.
• He became a servant wrapping himself in a towel, washing feet and pouring wine.
• He humbled himself, not just once, but again and again and again.  All the way to death.  

He rolled up his sleeves and did something for a friend.

And because he chose to die on a cross ...

God has highly exalted him 

and bestowed on him the name that is above every name 

Philippians 2:9

Because Jesus humbled himself, God exalted him.  

• God exalted him by raising him from the dead.  
• God exalted him by drawing him through the clouds and up to heaven.  
• And now Jesus is exalted at the right hand of the Father.  

Jesus is exalted. In a very specific moment in time Jesus was exalted.  And now he is exalted forever.

Jesus humbled himself and God exalted him.  

And God will exalt us in his time and in his way.  This is the plan that he has for each of his children. If you know Jesus, you are royalty.  You are sons and daughters of the King.  You have a glorious inheritance.  But right now, our job is to humble ourselves so that God can lift us up in his time and in his way.  

Here are three questions you can ask to see if you're on the right track.  

1. Who are you trusting for your advancement?

Jesus trusted his father.  He took the low place knowing that there would be a time when he would be exalted.  We can do the same.  If we can follow the way of Jesus and  take the low place, God will lift us up.  If we humble ourselves, God will exalt us in his time and in his way.  Trust Jesus for your advancement.  

2. Who are you trusting with your reputation?

Jesus was called glutton, drunkard, blasphemer.  He was ridiculed for hanging out with tax collectors, prostitutes.  His family thought he was out of his mind. When he hung on the cross he was mocked as the King of the Jews.  

If Jesus was okay with being called names, why are we so concerned about our reputation?  If we are living unto Jesus, we really don't need to worry what other people think and say about us. Hide yourself in Jesus and trust Him to make a name for you. Trust Jesus with your reputation.  

3. Whose name are you advancing?

Let's get real.  His name is THE NAME, the name that is above every name.  He is King of kings and Lord of lords, but we can act like our name, our title, our position is so important.  

His name is above every other name.  His name is above your name, and above my name.  Are you working to advance his name, or advance your name? 

Booker T. Washington could have been indignant that he was not recognize and hired for manual labor. He could have embarrassed the woman.  But he didn't.  He rolled up his sleeves and got to work.  

And when she stood before him apologizing, he welcomed her so graciously and called her friend.

This woman was so impressed with his character that she became his champion rallying friends and acquaintances to donate thousands of dollars to Tuskegee Institute.

If we will humble ourselves like Jesus, He will lift us up.  It's a glorious promise for wood choppers.  

Do you have comments or questions?  I'd love to hear them!  You can comment or you can email me at cynthiafin@gmail.com.  

And, if you're new to Riverside, welcome!  It's great to have you here.  Every Monday-Friday, we are here with a little bit of truth from the book of Philippians. For your convenience, you can subscribe and have every post delivered right to your inbox.  It's easy to subscribe.  Just put your email address in the little box up-and-to-the-right.