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Blog
The Head bowed low
Many people have shared why they are staying home or taking precautions for the Coronavirus. There may be an immune-compromised individual or an elderly family member that they know are at higher risk if they contracted the virus. “I’m staying home for ____,” and messages like that have filled my news feed and reminded everyone that the good of others is a higher priority than our own selfish ambitions.
Selfish ambitions can be hard to let go of. Preschoolers are taught, “You get what you get, and you don’t throw a fit.” Not everyone can have their own way. A few adults might need that reminder...
Sacrifice for the good of others to the ultimate degree was modeled by Christ (Phil. 2:3-11).
3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
7 rather, he made himself nothing
by taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
8 And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
The Head bowed low.
The One who was God in His very nature made Himself nothing.
The CEO of the company decided to clean the toilets at every employee’s house.
The superintendent of schools decided to go back to kindergarten.
The Head of the body decided it was time to play the part of the toenail on the little toe.
The Head bowed low and humbled Himself for the good of others.
His sacrifice made it possible for us to be one with Him as part of the body.
He did His part so that we might have our part in Him.
And now we have the opportunity to humble ourselves as the diverse parts of the body for the good of the whole and to the glory of the Head.
What is your part today?
P.S. His example of obedience and submission will be discussed at greater length in next month’s posts.
Even Jesus Got Battle-Weary
Weary. Tired. Beaten down. But never alone.
Through the video series “Victorious and Joyful in Battle,” we acknowledged that everyone is facing a battle in their lives. Our battles may look different, but the struggles are the same. And in the midst of the battle, we get weary and forgetful. The struggles consume us because we are in survival mode and can lose sight of what we are fighting for.
The hope of victory may feel like a distant, even nonexistent reality. However, we can wait in hope and eager expectation of the victory we have in Christ!
This past weekend, we celebrated the victory of the resurrection—the ultimate victory over death. And if we have been united with Christ in His death and His burial, we are promised the victory of the resurrection (Rom. 6:1-4)!
Yet Jesus, in His humanity, even though He knew with absolute certainty the promise of the resurrection, He and His disciples became weary in the battle.
We do not have to feel guilty for feeling weary! And when we do feel beaten down and exhausted, Jesus reminds us of three keys during the weary stage of the battle, as we eagerly anticipate the victory of the resurrection.
Jesus’ example shows us that
1. It’s okay to admit our weariness. “Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death... The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matt. 26:38a, 41b).
2. It’s okay to ask for help. “...and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him... Stay here and keep watch with me” (Matt. 26:36-38).
3. Prayer is vital for keeping our perspective. “So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing” (Matt. 26:44).
I rejoice with you in the hope of the resurrection and the victory we share through Him.
