A FRESH LOOK

For the past several months, I have been endeavoring to nail my wretched Self to a cross of obedience and so attain my destiny. Alas! I fail. I am as much alive—and as dead—as I was when I embarked upon this endeavor. I remain a receptor of slights, insults and injuries; I continue to experience hurt and such emotions as serve to cripple me when I would reach outside of myself in order to minister to those around me who are less fortunate than I am. My quest to die to Self and so rise to Christ—a selfless saint, living entirely for God—has been a farce; I am not Christ but me.

Perhaps I endeavor amiss. Maybe I need to re-examine Christ Jesus’ person, conversation and life. Perchance I have erred in my perception of the Savior. Indeed, it occurs to me that my Model is every bit as much a Self as I am. Rather, it is His response to others that is selfless. Did He not weep when His friend, Lazarus, had died? Did He not mourn over Jerusalem when she chose to play the harlot with other gods rather than cleave faithfully to Him? Apparently, He experiences the same full range of emotions as do all sons of Adam. However, when it comes to responding to those emotions, He invariably chooses to obey His Father rather than exercise His own will. Perhaps I should focus my efforts in that direction.

In future posts, I will examine Jesus’ example, as recorded in Scripture and as commented upon by the various New Testament authors.