Philippians 2:9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:

Jesus comes first. His name is at the top of the list. This begs to ask, “What about me?”

I look at all the time and trouble that God has invested in me and I cannot help but think I have to be important to God because He has paid so much attention to my health and wellbeing. OK, I may not be first, but He has proven to me that He loves me so much, I cannot help but think I am important to Him.

I was important enough that Christ died for me, doesn’t that count for something? The answer isn’t obvious because we don’t think like God thinks. I am number one on the list and so are you. If you are wondering how that can be true, then please see it this way.

Ephesians 2:6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

Read Ephesians and count the number of times Paul refers to our being “in Christ”. Our position is in first place because we are “in Christ.” All that we are, all that we claim, all that believe by faith is due to this one great fact, we are “in Christ”.

So why don’t we feel that way? Simply put the answer is sin. The truth is that the Holy Spirit has the responsibility to deal with sin in our lives. The work of the Holy Spirit is to place sin where it belongs, on the Cross of Christ. The work of the cross was to crucify sin in our lives. If we have not repented of these sins, taken them to the Cross, then that is what the Holy Spirit focuses on, putting us first in line for sanctification.

When He has nailed that to the Cross, then He can turn outward to do the will of the Father thru us.

Luke 14:27 whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.

2 Corinthians 11:29a Who is weak without my being weak? (NASB)

No one blames thin ice for being thin. The ice has no more control over its own condition than we do. We wait patiently for the ice to thicken so that the ice can be enjoyed or used. No one ever blames the ice.

Paul’s declaration here in second Corinthians is one of unity of faith. We are all of one body, we cannot isolate and treat weak members as if they are not part of the body. That’s exactly what we do with thin ice because we cannot and should not count on the support of those who are easily offended, provoked, or ill-tempered. We isolate them rather than encourage them.

This happens because they are thin ice and it is not within our power to change that, nor do we find any way to enjoy thin ice because we want to enjoy them for what we see is a potential which may or may not ever be achieved. It is our own desire which says thicken up ice, I cannot trust you. It is because we cannot see any beauty in thin ice beyond our own will and seek not the beauty in it that the Lord has allowed it to be weak for a reason.

I cannot go skating or ice fishing on thin ice. Is that all there is to our relationship with the ice? Can we only see ice for our own pleasure? Does it not hold any reflective properties? Does it or does it not reveal what lies beneath? Is there no life in it without our use of that life?

This same thin ice is where you boated and went swimming in warmer weather but now because the season is cold, the water has to change according to your expectations?

Ezekiel 21:6-7 Sigh therefore, thou son of man, with the breaking of thy loins; and with bitterness sigh before their eyes. And it shall be, when they say unto thee, Wherefore sighest thou? that thou shalt answer, For the tidings; because it cometh: and every heart shall melt, and all hands shall be feeble, and every spirit shall faint, and all knees shall be weak as water: behold, it cometh, and shall be brought to pass, saith the Lord God.

Do not with bitterness sigh at the thin ice, it is no more their fault than yours.