Build From Bottom Up

  “But among you it will be different. Those who are the greatest among you should take the lowest rank, and the leader should be like a servant.” (‭Luke‬ ‭22‬:‭26‬ NLT)
The service structure of a Twelve-Step Fellowship is modeled after this Kingdom rule. Service is bottom-up, not condescending. The invisible honor that results is contrary to Earth’s understanding, and looks upside-down, but it isn’t. The things of Heaven are unseen (Colossians 1:16), and so it is with spiritual living while on Earth. We are blessed for the purpose of service, and I am only content when I am giving myself in worship of my Creator by serving His other creations.

“A wise woman builds her home, but a foolish woman tears it down with her own hands. Those who follow the right path fear the LORD; those who take the wrong path despise him.” (‭Proverbs‬ ‭14‬:‭1-2‬ NLT)
I believe either of these verses could stand alone, but together they pose a parallel that amplifies the meaning of the second one by the word picture of the first. Failure for me to follow Lord Jesus Christ is the same folly as if I were to rip apart my own house in a violent fit. The use of a woman in the first picture demonstrates the social expectation of stewardship. It isn’t just any resident of the house going all Tazmanian Devil on it, but the housekeeper herself! I am my own life’s housekeeper, and so the choice to build or destroy, to follow or despise, is mine.

Holy Father, today, I choose to follow Your lead to love sacrificially, to serve others and, by extension, You. You are my motivation to breathe, move, fuel, plan, and act. Save me from selfish reaction today, and guide me under Your grace to peace. Cause my living to reflect Your loving care, and brighten my light so others will know You. In Christ Jesus’ name, amen!

Mary’s Song is Mine

⁴⁶ And Mary^[b] said,

“My soul magnifies the Lord,
⁴⁷     and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
⁴⁸ for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant.
Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
⁴⁹ for the Mighty One has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
⁵⁰ His mercy is for those who fear him
from generation to generation.
⁵¹ He has shown strength with his arm;
he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
⁵² He has brought down the powerful from their thrones,
and lifted up the lowly;
⁵³ he has filled the hungry with good things,
and sent the rich away empty.

I started to only copy parts of the first two verses of this passage, but every phrase says something to me. I relate to the praise of thanksgiving in Mary’s heart for God’s goodness to me when I finally humbled myself before Him, and I relish the opportunity to call Him my Savior and Lord.

I started to omit the holy mother’s blessed declaration, feeling it did not apply to me, but from an eternal perspective, I saw that it does. There will be a day when all generations gathered before the throne of Heaven will call me blessed too, as I and the rest of the sheep are separated from the goats, and the bride of Christ, with me included, takes her place with the Lord.

From generation to generation, the invitation remains open for any who wish to avail themselves of God’s mercy to do so in the name of the One Mary was carrying. God’s demonstrations throughout history prove that He is greater than anything that comes against us and that He is faithful to His faithful. “He opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble” (Proverbs 3:34, James 4:6, 1 Peter 5:5).

When I was living according to my selfish desires, I occupied the throne of my life. I made myself king, even demoting the God I professed. I was an idol-worshipper, so verse 52 applies to me in both senses. He brought me down, so He could lift me up. He has never stepped on my neck or celebrated my humiliation. He is always faithful, when I submit myself at His feet, to lift me up as a child, hold me in His lap, and love me. His powerful arms protect me, warm me, and affirm my relationship with Him. I am included, provisioned, and prepared for His purposes, not as a slave, although I readily accept this service, but as His own heir (Romans 8:17; Galatians 3:29, 4:7; Ephesians 3:6; Titus 3:7).

When I esteemed myself as rich, He allowed me to wander to complete my fruitless search for what I wanted. When I recognized my emptiness, He welcomed me home, and filled me with abundance from His limitless provision. All the substitutes I had abused were shown for their futility in comparison with the magnificence of His authentic blessing.

 

Dear Father, I lift You up today, for You are great and greatly to be praised. You have brought me, and continue to bring me, out of the bondage of self. Help me to live in the liberty of Your grace, so that I will not wander back into the sensually appealing trap of that dungeon again. Secure my feet along the secure path You have for me, and let me not stray from Your Word. Thank You for protecting me while I wandered from you except that I would experience the pain of separation from You and the consequences of my own choices. Now that I have chosen You, reveal to me the parts of me that remain in need of Your corrective pruning. Make me more like You intended me to be. Your will be done in me, Lord. Only Your will! I submit the dead flesh of self at your feet for Your disposal. Take my spirit and cradle me in Your arms, Papa. I am Yours!

Let It Be With Me According To Your Word

³⁸ Then Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her. (Luke 1:38, NRSV)

 

I admire Mary’s humble submission. She was given an honor, but it must have been frightening to be approached by an archangel, told she was going to bear a child by the power of our invisible God, and would be an unwed mother while engaged to be married. There is considerable cause to be concerned for a young girl who had maintained her purity, yet she was willing to do whatever it took to please the Lord. I am inspired by the unconditional willingness of such a spiritual hero. I can say little else.

 

Dear Father, today, I too submit to Your will and Your purposes. Let it be with me according to Your Word.

To Serve Rather than Be Served

Today’s New Testament in a Year highlight was Matthew 20:27-28, NRSV:

and whoever wishes to be first among you must be your slave; just as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.

Jesus’ instruction was that we should consider others’ needs ahead of our own, to be servant (or slave) of our fellows. Have we given enough of ourselves? Certainly we have not given our very lives! Christ, the God-man, demonstrated the extent of His commission: “Lay it all down like this,” as He again attempts to convey to His followers that His death was imminent.

There are certain things about my new calling toward becoming a missionary nurse that I find unsavory, and I can’t help but think about some of them when I read this verse. How disgusting and humiliating a task is before you? Is it worse than leaving the throne of Heaven to come to a stable hay feeder, to touch lepers, embrace sinners, be grabbed by the “unclean” bleeders, be betrayed by friends, abused by guards, miscarried by a faulty justice, beaten with a cat-o-nine-tails, nailed to a log, and suspended till you could breathe no more? Nope! I think, given the example of the model before me, I might be able to put up with a little more discomfort on behalf of those precious lives Jesus endured all that to save.

Dear Father, today, I lay down my life for Your purposes. Help me remember not to snatch it up again when Your purposes reveal themselves as unsavory circumstances or people. Save me from the prejudice of selfishness!

I regret not having had time to write the last few days, except that I got to share the words of my friend, Dan. I haven’t been keeping up with my usual readings either, but have been listening to audiobooks and podcasts during my various mobile times. I remember deciding to read The Chronicles of Narnia, by C. S. Lewis, about thirty years ago, and I can scratch that off my “to do” list. What a phenomenal allegory, especially in the last two books! It was also nice listening to professional actors read to me. Literature’s not just for leisure time anymore. Jack Hayford is doing an interesting study on prayer. I always count it a privilege, but I may have underestimated it as a responsibility. If no one calls for God’s will to be done, will it be? Good question!

Jesus’ Crumbs are Enough!

The NT in a Year reading for the day has us in Matthew 15, where Jesus, so focused on His mission to Israel, denied a Canaanite woman His attention until she persistently pleaded with Him using His own words to show her humility and her faith.

²⁴ He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” ²⁵ But she came and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, help me.” ²⁶ He answered, “It is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.” ²⁷ She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” ²⁸ Then Jesus answered her, “Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.” And her daughter was healed instantly. (Matthew 15:24-28, NRSV)

I can imagine someone of this age, maybe even me, responding, “Who are you calling ‘dog,’ Mister?” and storming away in anger and disappointment.  Or maybe even after hearing the Lord say, “Let it be done for you as you wish,” one might somehow mess it up with thoughts of doubt like, “Oh, this will never work!” or, “He didn’t even stop to talk to me.  Surely my daughter will die.”  The fate of the child of one so embittered would be much different than in the case of this Gentile woman.  She displayed three characteristics that I want to ensure are part my prayer life: humility, persistence, and faith.

This chapter is also home to the feeding of the four thousand.  This is on the heels of the miracle of the feeding of five thousand with even fewer resources, but the disciples still doubtfully whined, “Where are we to get enough bread in the desert to feed so great a crowd?” (v. 33)   It is a comfort, though convicting, to know that I am not the only one who can witness a great miracle of God, be moved in my spirit even to tears, and be thrilled with the magnificence of Jesus in one setting, and then before the shadow of the miracle has even set, begin to doubt Him in my next need.  Oh, to be like the Canaanite woman rather than the doubting disciple!

Dear Father, today, keep me looking for the miraculous in my routine.  You, who feed the sparrows will not neglect Your child.  Help me to know, no matter how big a crowd gathers against me, how big a need there is, how inept I may feel for the task at hand, and how overwhelming my circumstances may be, that You are able to manage it all and You will provide.  God, thank You for being a bountiful, almighty God.  Forgive my unbelief and strengthen my faith, precious Jesus!  Amen.