American poet and Pulitzer Prize-winner Edwin Arlington Robinson used to spend his summers at the MacDowell Colony near Peterborough, New Hampshire. Arriving at breakfast one morning, he found the writer Nancy Byrd Turner and a new member of the colony already seated at his table. "This is Mr. Robinson," said Turner to her companion.
"Robinson! Not E.A. Robinson -- not the Mr. Robinson?" gushed the other woman.
There followed a long, uncomfortable pause, then Robinson replied, "A Mr. Robinson."
Philippians 2:5-6 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
Humility doesn’t seem to be the trend for majority nowadays. Sadly majority is not always right. The very reason Jesus came down to earth was simply because he humbled himself. Perhaps the very beginning of Christian life is humility. Unless we are able to come under the Lordship of Jesus Christ, one cannot be saved. As we look at the above verses, we realize that Paul is writing to ordinary people to be humble in their day to day lives. So Jesus volunteered to stoop low, and became like us, to save sinners like us. He gave up the highest position in the universe, and that’s where God was more glorified and honored.
Perhaps it’s not in the snatching and fighting in the issues of life. It’s not even about being recognized, but it’s more about pleasing God by doing God’s will. If we remain consumed by our will, we might receive some recognition, but that will not last. The greatest recognition comes from God when we are ready to give it away, and are least bothered about it. Will you give up on your rights ?
Inspired by Dr. Sanjay Patra’s Sermon in Crossway on 28th Jan 2018
Stanley Thomas Isac
Stanley is serving as the Pastor of Crossway Church in New Delhi, he can be reached at Pastorstanleytisac@gmail.com
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