Just some early morning thoughts from me to you…
“Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.
And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
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: 5-11 (ESV)
Flipping through the channels this past weekend, I noticed what just happened to be scheduled for one of the weekend days on one of the cable channels.
A “Spider-Man” marathon.
One childhood super-hero among a host of other super-heroes who always seemed in control, using powers to prevail for good over evil, with occasional but temporary setbacks along the way.
Heroes usually in control above all that was around them.
We can identify. With being in control. Right?
Or maybe the flip side of being in control.
Not in control.
We plan. Think about things. Worry a bit. Try to figure things out.
We try to feel in control. And give the impression we are. We try to believe. That we can rise above all that is before us.
Then we assess the results of the control we thought we had, and realize we fell a bit short. Maybe even way short.
Listen—that’s okay. Because there is One we can learn from, lean on, rely on, plan with, and allow to guide our lives. Every moment of every day.
One that is above all. Even above Spider-Man and the other super-heroes from before, and of today.
The One the Apostle Paul was talking about in the passage above from Philippians.
The One who Michael W. Smith wrote about in his song “Above All” when he shared—
Above all powers, above all kings,
Above all nature and all created things.
Above all wisdom and all the ways of man,
You were here before the world began.Above all kingdoms, above all thrones,
Above all wonders the world has ever known.
Above all wealth and treasures of the Earth,
There’s no way to measure what You’re worth.Crucified, laid behind a stone,
You lived to die, rejected and alone.
Like a rose trampled on the ground,
You took the fall and thought of me—
Above allLike a rose trampled on the ground,
You took the fall and thought of me—
Above all
Only One. Just One.
And He is above all super-heroes, powers, kings, kingdoms, and thrones. Above all the wonders the world has ever known, and all of nature and all created things.
Above all wealth and treasures on the earth, and all wisdom and ways of man.
And He came, He thought of, and He gave His life for us—Above All.
So, why not put Him in control—Above All.
In His Name–Scott
Be reminded and lifted by God’s love for you “Above All” else, in this performance by Michael W. Smith.
