ASSENT TO DISSENT

Scripture: Philippians 2:5–11

“Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus…”

Picture this: a crowd of people, shoulder to shoulder, staring up at the sky. They say, “Let us build a tower, reaching heaven itself. Let us make a name for ourselves. Let us secure our place among the stars.” Sounds bold, even admirable—but pause for a moment. This is humanity grasping for glory without God. A reach for power. A refusal to depend. A desire to rewrite the order of creation.

This pattern is ancient. Satan said, “I will ascend. I will be like the Most High.”Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit, saying in effect, “We will become like God, on our terms.” Babel, Satan, Adam and Eve — different faces, same rebellion: ascent without surrender, self-exaltation without God.

And here’s the shocker: God doesn’t respond by building a bigger tower. God doesn’t compete. God does something entirely unexpected.

He comes down, he enters the world, he becomes the flesh.

Paul says: “Though He was in the form of God, He did not consider equality with God something to be grasped. He emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant…”

Where the world tries to ascend, Christ descends. Where humanity grabs, He releases. Where pride scatters, humility gathers. He bends down to touch our world, to serve, to sacrifice, and ultimately, to conquer not by force, but by love.

Babel tried to build a gate to heaven. Christ comes as the gate. Not a tower. Not a system. Not human ingenuity. A Person. And through Him, scattered humanity finds unity.

Take a moment and ask yourself:

• Where am I reaching upward on my own?
• What am I grasping that Christ calls me to release?
• How might humility, not ambition, open the door for life and blessing in my journey?

And here’s the truth to carry with you:

The real ascent is in coming down.

True power is found in surrender. True glory is discovered in humility.
What the world calls weakness, God calls strength.
What looks like loss, becomes life.
What seems like stepping back, is actually stepping into His higher way.

Today, the invitation is simple: stop trying to ascend on your own. Step down. Trust Him. Receive what He freely gives. Christ has opened the gate. Will you walk through it?

“Have this mind among yourselves…”

Choose humility. Choose trust. Choose Christ. And in that choice, find the paradox of true exaltation: the highest life comes when we follow Him downward.

Prayer

Heavenly Father,

We confess that too often we have sought to ascend on our own, to grasp for control, recognition, and power apart from You. Forgive us for our pride, for our Babel-like attempts to make a name for ourselves.

Lord Jesus, thank You for descending to meet us, for emptying Yourself, and for showing us the way of humility and love. Teach us to follow Your example. Help us release what we are clinging to, to trust You fully, and to walk in the path of obedience and humility.

Holy Spirit, guide our hearts. Let us see that true life, true exaltation, comes not by climbing higher on our own, but by surrendering, serving, and receiving from You. Open the gate of Your presence in our lives today.

We pray this in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.

Amen.