The little girl pointed out her watercolor painting to me. The
effort will not ever hang in a national gallery, I’m sure, but it was her work. A person who believes that she
is a person of worth will almost always live a better life and develop
healthier relationships. She will work harder at improving themselves and generally
make the kind of decisions that preserve her sense of well-being. Nothing touches any of us more deeply than
knowing we are loved! We all like to feel like we matter, that our work is
noted. You may say otherwise, but a note of appreciation for a job well done is
never unwelcome. Awards for good
performance, recognition for superior effort – these are things that matter to
us, and rightly so. Self-esteem is a necessary part of a healthy person’s psyche.
Then, there is this –
pride. As with everything in life,
the good gets mutilated by sin. Self-esteem morphs into an ugly parody marked
by arrogance, pride, and competition. Jesus called out his disciples on it. "They
came to Capernaum. When he was safe at home, he asked them, “What were you
discussing on the road?” The silence was
deafening—they had been arguing with one another over who among them was
greatest." (Mark 9:33-34, The Message) It really isn’t that
hard to imagine, is it? These grown men, chests puffed out, and pride on full
display were fighting with each other to claim the #1 spot. What did Jesus say? "He sat down, called the twelve disciples over to
him, and said, “Whoever wants to be first must take last place and be the
servant of everyone else.” Then he put a little child
among them. Taking the child in his arms, he said to them,
“Anyone who welcomes a little child like this on
my behalf welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes not only me but also
my Father who sent me.” (Mark 9:35-37, NLT)
A servant greatest of all? His words must have confused them,
as they often do us. We tend to ignore servers, don’t we? Those who do those ordinary tasks that make life work tend to be
overlooked and forgotten until the moment they are no longer there. I
confess that when I dine out and the person serving my table does a good job,
getting the order right, making sure the food shows up hot, keeping the
beverage glasses full I do not think much about it (I am a good tipper!). But
when a server is inattentive, messes up things, and makes dinner less
enjoyable, I notice! It is so refreshing
to find someone who really delights in their work, who does what they do
because they just want to do a good job, isn’t it? They are not fishing for compliments, making
sure to drop the right remarks to get noticed, or polishing their resume. They
just work, whole-heartedly, at their task because they have an internal sense
of what’s right.
How do you serve Christ, Christian?
Do you serve from a healthy sense of self-esteem, knowing that you are a child of God, a person of great worth in His sight?
Or, are you governed by pride, measuring your standing, making sure to get noticed, and quick to offense when you feel overlooked?
Do you serve from a healthy sense of self-esteem, knowing that you are a child of God, a person of great worth in His sight?
Or, are you governed by pride, measuring your standing, making sure to get noticed, and quick to offense when you feel overlooked?
Pray to know the love of God, profound, deep, and lasting. When
we are loved, John says, we learn to love. Let that be true in your life. God does not
expect you or me to anyone other than who He made us to be. He does not ask us
to be #1, the best, or just like someone else. He invites us to be exactly who
He created us to be, to use our gifts and callings in the best way possible,
faithfully, and for His glory. I pray to be more like that little girl who
showed me her painting without any sense of self-consciousness. She did not compare
herself to a great master, she just owned her work as a joyful expression of
her personality. God, help us to do the
same.
The word from the Word today is lengthy, a complete thought
about finding our place in this world. As you read it, may the Spirit guide you
to know the Father’s desire for you and lead you to a place of service where
you find joy and fulfillment.
"So, chosen by
God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you:
compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered,
content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely
as the Master forgave you.
And regardless of what
else you put on, wear love. It’s your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be
without it.
Let the peace of
Christ keep you in tune with each other, in step with each other. None of this
going off and doing your own thing. And cultivate thankfulness. Let the Word of
Christ—the Message—have the run of the house. Give it plenty of room in your
lives. Instruct and direct one another using good common sense. And sing, sing
your hearts out to God! Let every detail in your lives—words, actions,
whatever—be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father
every step of the way." (Colossians 3:12-17, The Message)
___________
How Deep The Father's Love For Us
How deep the Father's
love for us
How vast beyond all
measure
That He should give
His only Son
To make a wretch His
treasure
How great the pain of
searing loss
The Father turns His
face away
As wounds which mar
the Chosen One
Bring many sons to
glory
I will not boast in
anything
No gifts no pow’r no
wisdom
But I will boast in
Jesus Christ
His death and
resurrection
Why should I gain from
His reward
I cannot give an
answer
But this I know with
all my heart
His wounds have paid
my ransom
Stuart Townend
© 1995 Thankyou Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)
CCLI License # 810055
