Quiet Fire Devotional Series | The Paradoxes of God

Herbert Berkley
Aug 29
3 min read

Updated: Sep 4

Paradox 4 — To Be Exalted, You Must Be Humble

“Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.” — James 4:10, ESV“

For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” — Luke 14:11, ESV“

The way up in the Kingdom is always down.” — from a devotional reflection

Exaltation is one of the most sought-after treasures on the wide road. People strive to be noticed, to be validated, to be admired. Yet in the Kingdom, exaltation is never grabbed — it is given. And the ones who receive it are not those who stand tall over others, but those who bend low before God.

The paradox marker here is unmistakable: To be exalted, you must be humble.

The Lowlands of Humility

On the narrow road, this paradox belongs to the lowlands — stretches of path where the horizon lowers and the air grows heavy, where pride is pulled out by the roots. These lowlands are not punishment; they are preparation. God bends you down so that when He lifts you up, the glory belongs to Him alone.

The Two Ditches Beside the Lowlands

On the left is false humility — a performance that feigns lowliness in order to draw admiration, fishing for praise while pretending to reject it.
On the right is self-abasement — despising yourself as though that could earn God’s approval, forgetting that humility is not humiliation but surrender.

True humility rests in being small before God while secure in His love.

The Shepherd’s Provision in the Lowlands

Even here, He provides what you need:

Manna from heaven — the reminder that being unseen by others doesn’t mean you are unseen by Him.
The cold spring — joy when another is lifted up and you can rejoice without envy.
The shade tree — the safety of Christ’s covering, protecting you from the scorching heat of self-promotion.
The water from the rock — the refreshing peace of letting go of comparison, content to let God write your story.

The Banquet Seat

Jesus once told a story of a wedding feast: “When you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that when your host comes he may say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher’” (Luke 14:10, ESV).

Humility doesn’t angle for the best seat; it chooses the lowest. And when the Host moves you higher, it is a gift, not a grab.

The Glory of Christ’s Descent

Paul describes Christ’s humility in Philippians 2:6–9: though equal with God, He emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant. He humbled Himself to the point of death — even death on a cross. And because of this, God highly exalted Him.

Exaltation follows humility because God delights to lift up those who reflect His Son.

The Logos-Pattern in Humility

Word — “Humble yourselves.”
Distinction — Pride is stripped away; only dependence remains.
Order — Your steps are arranged beneath His authority, not your ambition.
Relation — You see others as higher without losing your dignity in Him.
Fruitfulness — Influence flows from character, not self-promotion.
Rest — Peace in letting God choose when and how to lift you.

The Crown in the Dirt

Humility does not mean you will always remain unseen. It means you will be exalted in God’s way, at God’s time, for God’s glory. And that exaltation may not look like the world’s applause — it may look like the quiet joy of knowing you have His approval.

The crown of the Kingdom is picked up not on pedestals, but in the dirt of humility.