Made for Something More AND Less

A pendulum swings back and forth in two directions from one side to the other.  Much like this arching motion, in life we can find ourselves in two unhealthy extremes.  In one instance I may struggle with pride and hold myself in much higher esteem than is healthy or right.  "Make much of me," my heart cries out.  Yet in another moment, I may find myself feeling downtrodden and defeated thinking that I didn't make the cut.  Does this sound familiar?  I can imagine that you've been there too.  I believe that there are two extremes that we must embrace, yet we must swipe the current pendulum off the table.  Neither defeat nor pride are healthy as we have been called for something more AND something less.

(The cross shows us we're made for something more, while the manger reminds us we're made for something less.)

Something More
Consider the cross and the beautiful message which it exemplifies.  With even my best attempts, I am a sinner who falls short.  This is true of each and every one of us.  Paul writes, "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23)  Yet even in my brokenness, God extended His hand and picked up my pieces.  It was not deserved, and it was not earned.  Oh amazing love.  But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)  As Christ lived a perfect life, only He was able to pay the price that my sin deserved.  While He hung upon the cross, He took the punishment that my sin justly deserved and stood in my stead.  He paid the heavy price willingly that I might be made right with God.  We are made for something much more because we now can surrender our lives to Christ and, through faith, receive the gift of His righteousness.  As a daughter of God, I am vastly mistaken in my identity when I see myself as less than His beautiful child.  Granted, I do not lose sight of my brokenness without Him, but I rejoice and embrace that I am made new and clean.  I really soak this in and relish it fully!  When God looks at me, He sees me made perfect in Christ.  Yes, this is what I was made for, this something more! 

Something Less
On the wings of this great identity and boldness we are given in Jesus, we are also to stifle our sinful pride and to make something less of ourselves.  In fact, I am reminded this Christmas season that He Himself first exemplified it through His humble birth.  One might imagine that the King of Kings and Lord of Lords would be given a grand reception into our world, yet instead He was welcomed and first worshiped in a lowly manger.  While I selfishly may get irritated by small inconveniences in daily life, Christ modeled for His followers what it is to have a true servant's heart.  Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness... (Philippians 2:6-7)  Time and again in His ministry, He taught His followers what He meant in His command to love one another.  I love the Scripture which tells of Jesus' great humility in washing his disciples' feet.  In a time when dusty roads resulted in very filthy feet, this act demonstrated true service and humbleness toward another.  Jesus explained, "I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.  I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him." (John: 13:15-16)  As Christians, we do not glorify God when we allow our pride and selfishness to get in the way; instead we bring great joy through our obedience in making less of ourselves to serve one another.          


As I reflect upon the manger and the cross, I recognize that we have truly been created in His image to be something more and something less than the status quo.  Through His power, may we seek to live up to these expectations each day. 

But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.  He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things -- and the things that are not -- to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him.  It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God -- that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.  Therefore, as it is written: "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord."  (1 Corinthians 1:27-31)

When the Rubber Meets the Road

 

(Photo from techpinions.com)

     I've always placed great stock in the old adage "actions speak louder than words."  How many times have we heard people spout wise words of advice only to turn around and contradict what they had spoken?  It's not terribly convincing.  The speaking is easy; the doing is difficult.  This is the ever-present opportunity and challenge in the life of a Christian.  Great conviction or words of praise lifted up to honor God are beautiful, but we must always be working in partnership with Christ in allowing Him to match the way we conduct ourselves with our identity as His son or daughter.  This is the path of sanctification that believers travel.  If I try to do it alone, I find myself completely inept and helpless, for that is what I am, a sinful human being from the time I was born.  In my twenty-five years of life, I've done quite a job of showing my own human depravity, but praise God that He has given me a great gift.  Jesus came to live the perfect life and to pay the penalty for my every sin that I may be made right in His Father's eyes.  It simply blows my mind and makes my heart overflow with thankfulness that my Savior has given me the gift of being made right with my Creator and Lord.  I recognize that I don't deserve it even for a second, but I embrace it wholeheartedly because it's clear that we cannot ever earn it.  It is a truly incredible gift.  Day by day, I let my heart be forever grateful to my Jesus and focus on the work that He is actively doing in me.  I love how in Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis describes this lifelong process of becoming more and more reflective of Christ.  He writes, "It is not a question of a good man who died two thousand years ago.  It is a living Man, still as much a man as you, and still as much God as He was when He created the world, really coming and interfering with your very self; killing the old natural self in you and replacing it with the kind of self He has." 

     If then I am partnering with Christ in this process, I must put my money where my mouth is.  It's easy to do so when things are going as one has planned, but how do we react when the rubber meets the road?  Take for example the lyrics of a beautiful, old hymn.  I surrender all.  I surrender all.  All to thee my precious Savior, I surrender all.  Surrender seems a flawless process when my path and God's path for my life are synonymous.  When a trial or difficulty is placed before a believer, though, the hardship offers such a richness of opportunity to be real and raw in one's reliance on Him.  If I believe that God is good as I know Him to be and I submit to His will for my life, then I must let Him keep shaping my heart and my focus on Him.  I rejoice in the work He is doing in my life daily whether it may seem easy or difficult.  I desire for my attitude and actions in all circumstances both joyous or painful to proclaim what the the apostle Paul so aptly wrote.  But He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.  Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.  That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties.  For when I am weak, then I am strong.  (2 Corinthians 12: 9-10)  This may seem counter-intuitive to some, but it makes perfect sense!  Whatever the day, whatever the challenges we may face, may He forever shape my perception to recognize that every step in my relationship with Him gives an opportunity to bring glory to His name.  When I am weak, Christ is strong and can shine all the more brightly in my life.  It's not about me.  It's not about you.  It's about Him!  That's the truth when the rubber meets the road, and side by side with Him, that's the road I'll confidently drive on.