YOU FIRST
But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant.” MATTHEW 20:25-26
It’s one thing to say it at an intersection, a doorway, or a grocery line. It’s another to put others first in every area, at every moment–even in your heart and mind. But it is the service to which Christ calls us.
The opposite of selflessness, namely selfishness, stems from two basic roots. The first is the sin of pride, which puffs up our own importance in our minds, causing us to think that intrinsically we are better than the people around us. The other is actually fear–fear that if we put other people first our needs will be forgotten, and we will become the proverbal doormat over which the rest of the world will gladly walk.
But when we’re rooted in Christ, there is no room, for such weeds. He tells us that all of us are sinners, justly deserving His displeasure. Only in Him do we have any value at all–so much for pride! The good news, though, is that He loves us perfectly, which casts out our fears of neglect and abandonment.. Suddenly, we are freed to see the beauty that Christ sees in other people–His wonderful creation. He fills us with the same servant spirit He demonstrated for us when He set aside His royal status to serve sinners. Knowing that He meets our needs above and beyond our expectations enables us to serve others with reckless abandon and rest in the love He extends to us.
Father
I confess as sin my prideful thoughts that put me before others. I know that in You I am a coheir with Christ, an adoped child of God, and I am wholly and dearly loved. But apart from You I am nothing. In humility, I ask You to help me see others through Your eyes of grace, and to lavish on them the same unconditional love You have shown me.
Heart Reflections by Nanette Kinkade
momsfirstscreenn
