It’s All About Love
For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.
Mark 10:45
A few weeks ago in my Wednesday night class, my instructor challenged me to think about what I use as a marker of success in my life. After giving it some thought, I replied that my main role in life right now is mom. So I often view my children's behavior as a direct byproduct of how I have raised them. When they are praised, I pat myself on the back. When they get into trouble, I blame myself.
This question has been festering in my mind since that night, and I saw in vivid detail what this mentality has done to me in recent days. My son has been struggling a bit here lately with an emotional milestone that all children go through. He is getting to the age where he realizes he is surrounded by other people who have their own ideas, actions, and emotions. As a parent, my obvious hope is that he takes this realization and decides to be considerate of others and what they need. However, that's not exactly how we're wired, is it? My son now sees these other people as competition for the things he wants. Oh, I should get to that toy before that other boy does! Or I need to squeeze into the front of the line or my turn may never come!
Now, as I've explained to my son many times, these thoughts don't make him a bad person - they simply make him human. We all have them. It's amazing how quickly our self-preservation instincts kick in when we get the sense we might be left out. And while this is a very natural reaction, when we look at it through the lens of Christ's love, we can quickly see its flaws.
While first century Jews were awaiting the Messiah, they envisioned a strong military general who would drive out the Romans and establish God's chosen race as the new world empire. Someone who would finally stand up to the bullies and say, "Enough is enough! It is time for your evil control to end!" But instead, they were given a meek, soft-spoken carpenter who was more in the habit of dining with sinners than brandishing his sword. And while He won the most important battle - against evil and death itself - He did so not from a golden throne or majestic warhorse, but from the humble position of a servant.
Jesus emphasized to His apostles more than once that in order to be first in God's Kingdom, you "must be the very last, and the servant of all" (Mark 9:35b). This was a concept He was trying to drive home to everyone, but especially those in leadership positions. The Pharisees and teachers of the law knew Scripture well and preached it well, but they were not good examples at carrying it out. (Matthew 23:3) Jesus wanted His followers to be different. They should know the Law of Moses, yes, as we still follow the Ten Commandments today. But when asked by the Pharisees for the greatest commandment in the Law, "Jesus replied: 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments" (Matthew 22:37-40).
In other words, if you're strictly obeying the Law, but not doing so out of love first for God and then for your fellow man, then all those actions are empty.
So, what does this mean for us today? If we have accepted Christ as our savior, then our assignment is simple: as followers of Jesus, we should do as He did. By spending time in Scripture, prayer, fasting, solitude, and service, we will find ourselves becoming more like Jesus, becoming people of love because God is love. No one said it would be easy. In fact, this process is described as dying to oneself. But this is how we bring God's Kingdom to earth.
Right now, my Wednesday night group is working through a series called "Practicing the Way" based on a book of the same name by John Mark Comer. It is truly one of the best things I have ever been a part of. If you're interested in learning more about what it looks like to follow Jesus and become one of His disciples in this day and age, I highly recommend it.
And in the meantime, let's remember that, much like my son, we are all ever growing in our walks with Jesus. No matter our age, there are always parts of us that we can give to God to help us improve and serve Him better. In trying to help my son recently, I have noticed that I don't need to be using the actions of my children as markers of my own success, because Jesus is the only one who can leave me truly content and satisfied.
I challenge you, friend, to take some time this weekend and sit with the Lord, asking Him to search you and know you, revealing those things that you're struggling with so He can help you through them. If it's selfishness, try to find ways to serve others more. If it's impatience, try putting down the technology and spend more time in nature. If it's worry, set goals to begin and end your days in prayer, blocking out the noise of this world. Whatever your struggle, Jesus is willing and eager to meet you in it and bring you out of it.
Amen
