Subscription Lists
Today's Little Lift
by Jim Bullington
Jesus Was Humble (5/5)
From the time we are children we long to be self-sufficient. Getting that first after-school job spells self-sufficiency. Getting our driver's license spells the same thing. Going off to school and moving into an apartment means we are finally our own boss. As time goes on and we mature as individuals, we learn to move further and further away from our parents and we ask for less and less from them. Our goal, our eventual goal, is to get to the point that we don't have to ask anybody for anything – then we are self sufficient! Our rearing, our education, our initiative have paid off! "I don't ask nobody for nothing!" Self-sufficiency is mine! I am successful!!
The picture above is not all wrong, but it has some potholes along the road that are about the size of the Grand Canyon. What if I am not able to be self-sufficient? What if disease strikes me down in my youth? What if I am a victim of an accident or fall prey to a mugger and am left a paraplegic? What if my mental capacity cannot grasp all that is needed to be self-sufficient? What if life's circumstances, through no fault of my own, leave me in a place where I must ask for help, not once, but over and over again? What if when I get older, I find myself at the mercy of caregivers and am literally led everywhere I want to go, or more frequently, to places I don't want to go? Am I not successful because I am not self-sufficient? Am I less in God's eyes merely because I never realized that mythical goal of self-sufficiency?
When Jesus asked Peter three times, "Do you love me?" Peter had a choice to make – a life changing choice – no, an eternity changing choice. Hear what else Jesus said to Peter: "'Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish'. This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, 'Follow Me.'" (John 21.18-19) Peter knew the implications of what Jesus was saying; he knew that He was saying, "If you follow Me, you will never be self-sufficient!" With that, Peter turned to John and asked, "But Lord, what about this man?" (John 21.21). Jesus' response speaks volumes! Jesus simply said, "If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me." (John 21.22).
Implied in Jesus' response is the fact of His sovereignty and man's absolute dependence upon God. When we follow Jesus, we agree to stop being self-sufficient, or more accurately, to stop thinking we are self sufficient. Upon this earth, maturity may mean growing more self-sufficient, but in the spiritual realm, maturity means learning more and more to depend upon God! That is THE paradox of our existence. On the one hand we learn and yearn to be self-sufficient while on the other hand, we learn and yearn to be dependent upon Him!
Jesus is humility and He came to teach humility. Because of this supreme sacrifice, the Father "… has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (Philippians 2.9-11). All who are humble bow to Him!
Receive the newest devotional each week in your inbox by joining the "Today's Little Lift" subscription list. Enter your email address below, click "Go!" and we will send you a confirmation email. Follow the instructions in the email to confirm your addition to this list.