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)