|
People often excuse their selfishness, pride or evil, by claiming their rights. I can do whatever I want because I’m not hurting anyone. But as believers, we should have a different attitude, one that enables us to lay aside our rights in order to serve God and others. When we look at the life of Christ, we witness a life of Humble Obedience. Christ came to earth as a man in obedience to God. He obediently set aside all the privileges, preperogatives and power of the Godhead, accepting the position of manhood depending upon God the Father.
Christ was a Submitted Man. Every sign, miracle and work of Grace was performed by the Father through the Son. Every action, attitude, move and motive showed a man submitted to the Spirit of God. This is the impossible perfection God demands from all of His blood bought children. This is the unattainable way to live that God really demands of all His disciples, those who are to learn how to live this Christ-like life.
We first need to realize that his standards are unattainable through the efforts and attempts of humankind. The lesson we are to learn over time is that we must decrease as God himself increases (John 3:30).Because of our flesh, this has been a hard fought battle. In Matthew 11:29 Christ encourages Isreal and us to “Learn of Me.” But Paul exhorts us to think with the very mind of Christ in all things: “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.” We are to simply set our minds on learning Christ and to live the way that He lived. Notice that this is only possible for us through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Christ in me is the hope of Glory. So, it is with all believers who desire to live godly until Christ is all and all in me. This point of crisis must be reached until it is no longer I that live, but Christ that lives in me. Illumined by the Spirit of God. Not what I am, but what You are Lord. Your love, not mine. Your actions and attitude, not mine. Your joy, not mine. Your motives and mind. Your peace, not mine. Your thoughts and Your words. In other words, Your Everything and my Nothingness.
We must strive for His Good Pleasure. Christ-likeness means God’s work carried out by the Spirit through me, until it is Christ and Christ alone that lives in me. Until it’s God who works in me, to will and to do of His good pleasure. Jesus said, “without Me you can do nothing;” that is in our own strength and wisdom. However, Paul concludes that in Christ…I can do all things through His strength.” Therefore, if we say we follow Christ, we must also say that we want to live as He lived. We need to develop His atiitude of Humility as we serve, even when we are not likely to get recognition for our efforts. Remember, we have a choice when it comes to our attitude towards the service we are called to. Amen.
Pastor Andrea (aka Rev. Andie)
|
