The world we live in today is not always kind. Yes, there are some very kind people but it seems more rare than it used to be. Maybe I’m just getting older and more sentimental. I don’t know. It just seems like everybody is looking out for number one and it doesn’t matter whose toes get stepped on if you’re fighting for a position. It makes me sad. I used to see people hold a door for someone if they had their hands full. You might see it now, but it’s not the norm. If we all are serving the “kingdom of self”, who is showing the world what God’s kingdom is supposed to look like? Didn’t The Lord charge His people with being His ambassadors in this broken world?
I wonder if Jesus’ instructions would work in a corporate setting today? I feel as though people might think He had things backwards. “He sat down, called the twelve disciples over to him, and said, ‘Whoever wants to be first must take last place and be the servant of everyone else.’” (Mark 9:35 NLT) Ok. This is definitely counterintuitive to self promotion. He’s basically telling us that people are not our competition. He’s telling us to serve them and He will promote us. That seems so foreign in a world where individuals are trying to outdo one another in almost every area of life. I don’t mean to sound negative; I’m just making observations. I think what this world needs more than ever is a good old fashioned checkup. Remember when you were young and you’d go to the doctor just for a checkup? You weren’t sick, but your parents would drag you there anyway against your wishes. It’s still like that today. God IS The Great Physician and I think we instinctively know things are not right in our hearts. Therefore, we don’t want to look into the mirror of His Word and be diagnosed. We convince ourselves that we’re just fine the way we are. That deception can and will lead to your downfall. “In the same way, you who are younger must accept the authority of the elders. And all of you, dress yourselves in humility as you relate to one another, for ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.’” (1 Peter 5:5 NLT) Humility is not being a doormat. It is accepting the fact that there’s One greater than you and He has given you grace and mercy that should be passed on to others.
“Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us.” (Romans 12:3 NLT) We all have room to grow. Nobody has figured life out and arrived yet. We have to submit ourselves under the authority of The One who is Life. We were never designed to do life alone. We don’t have what it takes. If the devil convinces you that you do, watch out! He’s setting a trap that will certainly ensnare you and keep you from being all God wants you to be. We all have weaknesses. Admitting this leads to freedom. “Each time he said, ‘My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.’ So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.” (2 Corinthians 12:9 NLT) It’s in our weakness that Christ really shines. People know that it’s not us. It can only be Him. So God’s grace showing through our weaknesses can be a very strong statement. It points people to the One who loves them most. In order to do this, we have to be vulnerable and real with one another. The world doesn’t need another person to compete with. They need someone who cares enough to show that they are just a real person living in a broken world with issues just like everyone else. They need someone with a posture of humility.
Today’s writer is Brandi Crowe. A hairdresser for over 25 years, she is currently the owner of Brandi Crowe salon in Buford, GA. She loves hiking, a good cup of coffee, and spending time with family and friends. Brandi lives in a custom farmhouse with her husband Robby and cat Harold.