Build up, not tear down others

​9/27/21
Today’s devotion for today is based on Numbers 12:1,2, “Miriam and Aaron began to talk against Moses because of his Cushite wife, for he had married a Cushite. ‘Has the LORD spoken only through Moses?” they asked. “Hasn’t he also spoken through us?’”
In today’s verses, you can tell by their words that there was more going on than just a slight dislike for their sister-in-law on the part of Aaron and Miriam. They were using their brother’s wife as a pretext to tear Moses down. And as is so often the case, when we tear others down, we’re hoping to build ourselves up. The jealousy of Aaron and Miriam wasn’t just a sibling problem. It was a human problem—a reflection of the wickedness that we all share in our sinful hearts.
That wickedness to pull others down makes us marvel all the more at the selfless love of Jesus. He’s the One who came from heaven not to pull us down but to raise us up to life eternal. He became our sibling in flesh and blood so that we could become his siblings in the family of the Father. Jesus exalts us as his baptism-washed family. And because of that, we should not only exalt him but other people with thankful hearts.
Please pray with me: Dearest Jesus, how blessed and grateful I am that you call me your family. Please help me live my life exalting others so they are built up and not torn down.  In your blessed name, I pray. Amen.