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“A dispute also arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest. Jesus said to them, ‘The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves.'” (Luke 22:24-26, NIV)

We now see the glory of the Resurrection, but before we arrive at Easter we must leave Palm Sunday and endure Good Friday. Our attitude through all of it, according to Jesus, is to be as He was: The least of all. The last of all. The servant of all.

The disciples were acting out of their corrupted nature (which, as people, we all share). This nature aspires to be the greatest of all. This nature desires to be the first of all. This nature expects to be served by all.

Because of what Jesus has done for all of us through His death on the cross, and through His resurrection from the dead; His summons to servitude is validated for all time and for all people. Our corrupted, natural ambitions assure nothing but strife, but our obedience to Jesus assures us life in all of its fullness. – Luther

Tagged Holy Week, humility, servitude, the book of Luke

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“People who accept discipline are on the pathway to life, but those who ignore correction will go astray.” (Proverbs 10:17, NLT)

We, who have lived more than half of our allotted years, are at heightened risk of “going astray” in two basic ways: (1) Because we’ve “seen it all,” we are less open to a corrective word from someone else, especially if they are younger or less experienced than we; and (2) people who can help may be put-off when we don’t appear approachable or teachable.

Truth is truth, whether from the lips of an angel or from the mouth of a jackass (that is, the jackass of Numbers 22); and help is help, whether from a brother or from a stranger.

Work at being open to God’s discipline and His words of correction. The Lord uses many personalities, agents, and circumstances to guide His people in the way that leads to life! – Luther

Tagged discipline, humility, the book of Proverbs, truth

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“Now listen, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.’ Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, ‘If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.'” (James 4:13-15, NIV)

The late French President Charles De Gaulle is famously quoted as saying: “The cemeteries are full of indispensable men.”

To guard against “overplaying” our hand in this life requires humility, which may be defined as saying, “God, you are God — and I am not.”

The continuous acknowledgement of God’s supremacy as we move from assignment to assignment, and task to task, takes nothing from us. On the contrary, it gives each moment a will and a purpose that reflects the presence of the Almighty. – Luther

Tagged Charles De Gaulle, humility, the book of James