A Community of Grace »

Rights. As citizens of the United States of America, we have them. Our society functions best when we respect the rights of others, and trust them to do the same with ours. Each one of us has exercised those rights and sometimes defended them against injustice.

As a child of God you also have unique rights. One in particular brings with it the promise of great blessing. This right is not one you defend or exercise. You have been given the freedom to lay down your rights. That’s the model Jesus gave us, and what God challenges you to do:

“Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: 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” (Philippians 2:5-7).

Why did He do this? Stated just a few verses later, it was “to the glory of God the Father.”  That’s why we, too, lay down our rights.

We can relinquish the right to be noticed, understood and appreciated for the privilege of seeing, understanding and acknowledging the needs of another.

We can lay down the right to retaliate against someone who has wronged us so God’s love can flow through us. 

In laying down our rights, we rise up into our greatest God-given freedom: the privilege of displaying the glory of God.  Jesus laid down His rights as the sinless Son of God and took on our sin.  Because of His selfless act, we might become the righteousness of God. Yet when we grapple for self-ordained rights and feel entitled to certain thoughts and behaviors, we hide and hinder the righteous life of God in us. He fail to live for His  glory.

“Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”   Matthew 5:16

 What choices can you make today to relinquish your rights and serve those around you?

Flowers displayed in a cut glass crystal vase beautify any space. Cuts are made in a surface of glass by artisans holding and moving the piece against various sized metal or stone wheels to produce the desired pattern. The most valuable cut vases are those which reflect the most light. The brilliance of such objects is achieved through sharp and deep cuttings.

Like a brilliant cut vase, you were formed by the ultimate Artisan. God created you to be a vessel in which He could display His dazzling purity. Man was not designed to rely on his own reservoirs of life, goodness, strength or happiness. The eternal God was to be the source of man’s purpose and good works.

Salvation in Christ recreated you into the magnificent vessel which God had always planned for you to be. Like a carefully cut vase, God will continue to etch His beauty into your life. Difficult circumstances and people are His cutting tools. As you choose to humbly submit to His sovereign ways of shaping, more of His glory is revealed in your character. No matter how deeply He chooses to cut, you are anchored in the surety of His love. God promises to work out His good purposes in your life as you obediently trust Him in all circumstances.

In order to enhance the beauty of flowers which it holds, a vase must be daily emptied of old water. Likewise, your life will reflect the light of Jesus more brightly as you come to Him for daily cleansing from pride, allowing sin patterns to be cut away. Ask the Holy Spirit to fill you afresh, causing you to shine forth the light and love of Jesus.

“For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”

2 Corinthians 4:6

He is risen! These extraordinary words were spoken to the women who had come to Jesus’ empty tomb after His death and resurrection. The angels who greeted them reminded the women of the words Christ had spoken. He would be given into the hands of sinful men, be crucified for the sins of all mankind and rise again on the third day. Humility and suffering were the means through which Christ’s reconciling work would be accomplished.

Just as Jesus died to sin and rose again in newness of life, so too have all those who trust in His name. Your life is so valued and precious to our Maker that He sent His perfect Son to bring you back to Himself. You are His beloved child and your life carries great eternal significance. You have been chosen to live in the power and beauty of His life, making His name known among men. 

Ephesians 2:10 states that you are God’s workmanship. At the moment of your salvation God exerted divine creative powers to marvelously fashion and create you anew in Christ Jesus. You are no longer your own. You have been bought with the precious blood of Christ.

Christ’s humility is your example in all manner of living. As you lay down your small dreams of self-glorification, He will reveal His God-exalting plans. The Holy Spirit will work mightily in and through you as you yield in complete dependence upon His love and power. That love is your constant companion in the war against your pride.

Will you daily choose to say “no” to ungodliness and worldly passions, displaying instead the pure life of Christ? Lay down your life afresh this day, and rise up into the new life that is yours in Christ. 

       “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope – the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.”

Titus 2:11-14