To be like Jesus

“How many kings step down from their thrones?

How many lords have abandoned their homes?

How many greats have become the least for me?

And how many gods have poured out their hearts

To romance a world that is torn all apart

How many fathers gave up their sons for me?

Only wanted that for me”

Songwriters: Jason Ronald William Germain / Marc A. Martel

As we sang this song yesterday a wave of emotion fell over me. I began to think about how God humbled himself and left his throne. He became a man and died a humiliating death, all to save me from what I deserve. As I thought about all that He went thru during His last week, it reminded me of how difficult those things are for us as humans. Most people are proud. We don’t like to be inconvenienced, mistreated or humiliated. When we are, we often lash out in a defensive nature, but not our Jesus. He deliberately humbled himself and came in the lowliest of form. He left a throne for a manger and it didn’t get much more luxurious than that. From what I read in the Bible his family lead a normal life. Then he chose to die a humiliating death. He was beaten, tortured, ridiculed and mocked. All for me. All while praying for those persecuting him and forgiving them along the way. What an example. What a challenge.

What is God calling you to leave behind today? What is he calling you toward? Does it make you uncomfortable? Does it make you nervous? Does it require laying your pride aside and following in his steps? Whether it’s that apology you have been afraid to give or forgiveness you have been holding back. Whether it’s that ministry he has been calling you to or the Bible study he wants you to teach. He taught us to lay aside our own pride, desires and ambitions and give or lives for those around us.

Lord, help me surrender my human pride. Let me look to you for my future and calling, rather than building my own castle in the sand. Let me be like you!