O
THE
vercoming
A New Measuring Rod
SERIES
‘BUT AMONG YOU, THOSE WHO ARE THE GREATEST SHOULD
TAKE THE LOWEST RANK AND THE LEADER SHOULD BE LIKE THE
SERVANT’ LUKE 22:27.
In this devotional, we speak often about goal-setting, perseverance, motivation and
destiny. And we should, for without a goal, a strategy and a committed heart, you’ll
never fulfi l your life’s purpose. But in your quest for success and your striving for
Create in me a new
recognition, Jesus gives you a new measuring rod.
heart Lord, and
Listen: ‘For who is greater, he who sits at the table, or he who serves? …Yet I am
renew a right spirit
among you the One who serves’ (Luke 22:27 NKJ). In Jesus’ day, the washing of feet
within me. Lord I
was a task reserved not just for servants but for the lowest of them. Every circle
want to live each
has its ‘pecking order’ and the circle of household workers was no exception. The
day guided by Your
servant at the bottom was expected to be the one on his knees, with the towel and
Holy Spirit, to do the basin. What a sight; the One here with the towel and the basin is Jesus! Think:
whatever You want the hands that shaped the stars now wash away fi lth. The fi ngers that formed the
me to do. No more mountains now dry the feet of crude Galilean fi shermen.
offering to serve Hours before His death, His concern is singular: to let His disciples know that in
and then choosing His Kingdom, the way up is down, the way to the top is not through intelligence
what not to do, Lord
or manipulation but through humility and service to others. Living this way is not
I’m in this for life,
natural, it’s supernatural; you can do it only as you surrender daily to the indwelling
whatever it takes. If
power of His Spirit.
Jesus could die on
a cross to deal with
my sin, the least I
Call it Grace!
can do is offer my
‘…THE LORD, THE LORD GOD, MERCIFUL AND GRACIOUS,
life back in serve
LONGSUFFERING, AND ABOUNDING IN GOODNESS AND TRUTH’
to Him. Thank
EXODUS 34:6.
You for this great
opportunity.
God loves you just as you are, but He loves you too much to let you stay that way! Do
you think God’s love for you would be stronger if your faith was stronger? No. You’re
confusing God’s love with human love. Human love increases with performance
and decreases with mistakes. But not God’s love; He loves you just as you are right
now. Do you have trouble accepting that? Listen to how God introduces himself:
‘…The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering and abounding in
goodness and truth’ (Exodus 34:6 NKJ). Awesome!
In spite of his terrible failures, David could say, ‘I will sing of the mercies of the
Lord forever. With my mouth will I make known Thy faithfulness to all generations’
(Psalm 89:1). And if you need more to convince you, Paul writes, ‘But God
demonstrates His own love towards us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ
died for us’ (Romans 5:8 NAS).
Get rid of your do-it-yourself righteousness. Salvation is not ‘Do! Do! Do!’ It’s
‘Done! Done! Done!’ It’s a fi nished work. You can add nothing to it. You stand
before Him in His name and in His righteousness, not yours.
Perhaps you’re saying, ‘It sounds too easy.’ Wrong! There was nothing easy about
it! The cross was heavy, the blood was real and the price was staggering. It would
have bankrupted you and me, so He paid it for us. Call it simple, call it a gift, but
don’t call it easy. Call it what it is; call it grace!
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