Category: Quotes

In those days, foot washing was considered so degrading that a master could not require it of a Jewish slave. Peter blanched at the provocation. The scene of the foot washing stands out to author M. Scott Peck as one of the most significant events of Jesus’ life: “Until that moment the whole point of things had been for someone to get on top, and once he had gotten on top to stay on top or else attempt to get farther up. But here this man already on top — who was rabbi, teacher, master — suddenly got down on the bottom and began to wash the feet of his followers. In that one act Jesus symbolically overturned the whole social order. Hardly comprehending what was happening, even his own disciples were almost horrified by his behavior.”
–Philip Yancey

And yet, we are also called to get down on the bottom and “wash the feet” of others – to serve them, instead of choosing to be served.

A hard mindset to embrace.

How well are you following Jesus’ servant leadership example?

There’s a startling trend in Christian thinking about suffering. Though subtle, this misconception is no less dangerous than many other of Satan’s lies. I call it the “Joseph Principle,” and it goes like this:
     If I am suffering in obscurity today, God must be preparing me for something greater, better, or more prominent later in life.
     …the hard truth: Sometimes suffering only leads to our greater obscurity, but His greater glory.
–Anonymous, Embracing Obscurity

Joseph (and several other biblical characters) seemed to go through trial and suffering so that they could come out on the greater end with more prominence later in life. Joseph was sold into slavery by his own brothers, but his suffering led him to become the 2nd highest official in all of Egypt. This “Joseph Principle” has us telling ourselves that we will come out of our suffering like Joseph – in a place of higher prominence and status. But we must remember that this life is not all about us and having our names become great, but rather is all about God and having His Name be made great.

Therefore, the suffering that we endure may not give us more status, more wealth, or more power. In fact, it might just do the opposite. But if we will hold onto God’s hand through the midst of our suffering, He will get greater glory as others see that we continue to praise Him in the midst of the storm. And if He gets greater glory, than we are fulfilling one of the key purposes of our life on earth.

Your suffering today may not make you greater tomorrow, but if you walk through it with God, your suffering today can make God look glorious and great to others – and that is a goal worth suffering for.

Father, help me to endure whatever trials, pain, and suffering come my way by holding onto Jesus and sharing with others how great You are.

Zeal in religion is a burning desire to please God, to do His will, and to advance His glory in the world in every possible way. It is a desire which no man feels by nature — which the Spirit puts in the heart of every believer when he is converted…. A zealous man in religion is pre-eminently a man of one thing. It is not enough to say that he is earnest, hearty, uncompromising, thorough-going, whole-hearted, fervent in spirit. He only sees one thing, he cares for one thing, he lives for one thing, he is swallowed up in one thing; and that one thing is to please God.
–J. C. Ryle

Has your life been swallowed up by that one thing?

The ability to get outside of one’s own skin and serve another is not natural for anyone. But sitting back and doing nothing is not an option. We are called to love, to serve, to identify need, and to respond. That is not easy for anyone, but it is what the Holy Spirit helps us to do so that we can become more like Jesus.
–Rebecca Pippert

God commands us to have a servant attitude toward others… the same attitude of Jesus Christ:
Do nothing from selfishness…but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.

This is not easy.
It is not natural.
It willingly puts us under others, when our flesh cries out to be on top.
But…
…It is the command of God.

Serving others in this way is an aspect of dying to self which we are commanded to do.

What will you do?
Fight to stay on top?
Follow the counsel of the world?
Or seek to please God?
It won’t be easy, it won’t be comfortable, it won’t be natural… But obeying God is the best choice we could ever make as it will help us to become more like Jesus.

What is the ultimate good? It all ends in one thing: God Himself.
All the words of the gospel lead to Him, or they are not gospel.

For example: “salvation” is not good news if it only saves from hell and not for God. “Forgiveness” is not good news if it only gives relief from guilt and doesn’t open the way to God. “Justification” is not good news if it only makes us legally acceptable to God, but doesn’t bring fellowship with God. “Redemption” is not good news if it only liberates us from bondage, but doesn’t bring us to God. “Adoption” is not good news if it only puts us in the Father’s family but not in His arms.
–John Piper

I am so amazed and so blessed that God news has opened the way for me to find Him, has brought me into fellowship with Him, has liberated me to freely choose Him, and has put me in His arms.

Thank You God for the gospel… the ultimate good news!