There is an old saying in military circles – “you cant polish a turd!” Until you see the Gift of Christ for its FULL value – you are trying to polish a turd!
How can you be in first place?
How can you be more?
Is it possible that what makes sense to Him doesn’t to us?
“Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.” – Mark 9:35
Does this statement above make sense to you?
God’s world is upside down and His ways and thoughts are not anything like ours at all!
Our love has conditions attached and our idea of love is attached to a “give to get” mentality. His Love and His idea is the direct opposite, He Loves you no matter what!
This is why people think they can gain favor from God by “doing” or by “works.” “If I work a little harder I can sit on the front pew” type of mentality that came to America with the Puritans- by the way they had a foolish idea that they could become “more” pure by working really hard.
If you still think you can be more pure than what Christ made you when you believed in Him and accepted His sacrifice I have just five words for you- You can’t polish a turd!
This verse has nothing to do with working harder, it has to do with acceptance of the fact that there is nothing good in me and I am totally dependent on Him. I am a servant to all and I am in last place in every possible category- thus the law makes us all equally low.
Here is the key to a life you could never have imagined- hunger and thirst for a relationship with Him. Lose everything you own, everything you have ever hoped for and everything you ever wanted to be if it takes it but BE with Him.
Jesus was a teacher which was highly esteemed in His day and yet He washed feet and liked to hang out in the company of bad, unholy and unrighteous people.
What about you?
Here is a meditation for you. Find a time and a place where you probably won’t be disturbed and begin by taking several deep breathes. With each exhalation feel your stress leaving you and flowing to Him. Close your eyes and really relax all the muscles in your face. As you do this begin to get a picture of you serving the needs of others, washing feet or going and visiting people at the local hospital. See yourself being a servant with no expectation- you are doing this just because His Love flows through you- Now:
Breathe in and say:
“God teach me to”
Breathe out and say:
“Serve”
Practice this until more is less and being in Him means serving in Love.
Don’t Worry- Be Grace-Full!!