03/24/2025
This morning, I have been mulling over the fact that we should always put Jesus ahead of our own wants and self-interests. My mind has wandered to those times when I have placed my name first and didn't allow Him to take the lead in my life... or had ignored Him all together. Jesus has been declared by God Himself to be the name above all names, and yet sometimes we take it upon ourselves to subvert His rule and pursue our own interests as if we hold a higher office than He does. We don't do this so much as a coup d'état but we do it in answer to our own pride and selfishness. Does the thought of this cause our faces to flush with embarrassment and shame?
“Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.”
Philippians 2:9-12 KJV
I think of a few simple things in my life that successfully tempted me to become an usurper of the throne... the times I passed by someone in need so that I could make a meeting with a friend or business associate, the times I heard Him call and didn't answer, and the other things I took personal pride in when, in fact, Jesus had asked and helped me to do them. John the Baptist felt such temptations during His ministry and fought against them… listen to what he says:
“Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him. He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease.”
John 3:28-30 KJV
The followers of John the Baptist were on the verge of worshipping him... even though he was merely the messenger... they wanted to place him before Christ the Lord. The temptation was there to allow such adoration, but he set things straight. John stopped them cold with the wonderful image of a Jewish wedding in which he was the friend of the groom... the best man.
I am going to use modern language to make this same point, but in Jewish weddings of that time the best man would stand outside the honeymoon suite (if you will allow me that word) and when the marriage had been consummated the groom would shout and hand a cloth containing the blood of the bride's virginity to him, as a sign of her purity and faithfulness. The best man would then present it to the guests in attendance as proof of the consummation, and the wedding celebration would begin in earnest. The interesting thing about this tradition is that the groom would shout in celebration and joy at the sight of the blood and this caused great joy in the bridesmaids and groomsmen who were standing outside the room waiting to hear his voice. Today we consider this a very private moment and would not appreciate that ancient custom.
So, John was using this analogy to describe his relationship with Jesus. He was telling his disciples that he was the friend (the best man) and Jesus was the groom who had taken the bride. In the moment of consummation, or full realization of the marriage, he would be joyously waiting outside the bridal chamber to hear the groom's voice, and for his appearance with the cloth of proof. John was emphasizing that he was not the groom, but the friend and messenger who would simply reveal the groom's glory to all those present.
We should also be waiting to hear the voice of Jesus... like John, we too are not the groom, but rather the friend who serves Him. When the Lord says this is for me, who are we to deny Him? When Jesus tells us to fill up jars with water, who are we to say "that is silly"? No, we are to fill up the jars and watch as the miracle of turning it into wine is performed and then serve the wedding party with that good wine.
“Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. And he said to them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast.” So they took it.”
John 2:7-8 ESV
Have you ever been walking down a busy street and seen someone sitting in a doorway, or laying against a wall, and heard the Lord’s voice say "Feed Them!"? Did you do it, or did you put something else ahead of what had been asked of you?
The week before Christmas in 1978, I met my wife on Church Street in downtown Nashville for lunch. Afterward, we were standing outside a jewelry store looking at rings, necklaces and other fine items through the display window. A man dressed in rags came up to us asking for spare change... and I told him no and to leave us alone. A couple of minutes later he came up to us again and begged us for some money because he was hungry... and again I told him that I had nothing for him and to be gone. Then, not moments later he came up a third time and in a pleading voice asked in desperation once more for change. I told him harshly that if he bothered us again I would thrash him... and he left. I have thought of that man over and over again during the many years that Ann and I have been married. Each time I am ashamed of my response that day, and I can tell you that I believe to this very day that I turned away Jesus on that cold December day.
In May it will have been 48 years since I rejected that hungry beggar, and I wish there was some way that I could go back and make that mistake right. You see, I believe I had placed my own self-interest ahead of Jesus. Interestingly, I had brought Ann to that jewelry store because it was Christmas, and I was looking for a nice gift to give her. I gave her a beautiful jewelry box that year, and when she unwrapped it, I could see the disappointment in her eyes... I had selected the wrong gift. She had wanted jewelry and instead I had given her a box to keep it in. Sometimes our faith is like this... we wrap up the box and forget to put the gift of love inside it. On the street that cold December day I had been so engrossed with selecting a perfect present for Ann that I missed giving Jesus the gift of love He sought.
So Often we meet Jesus on the streets of our lives and don't recognize Him, but if we are following His teaching, and placing Him first in our lives, all will be right... and we won't have to look back on those lost opportunities wishing we had placed Him first in our lives, and regretting having sent Him away disappointed. Have you heard the Lord’s voice before and ignored it? Have you ever sent Him away empty handed? Will you be obedient the next time an opportunity presents itself?
Prayer:
Father, I thank you for whispering your will and desire for me into my ear. I thank you for your Holy Spirit who helps me to see right from wrong in my heart. Jesus, I am sorry for those times when I have placed my own self, or others, ahead of you. And his morning, with tears in my eyes, I recall those occasions in shame. Father, I am nearly crushed by the fact that Jesus is still willing to cover me with His cleansing blood after I have failed Him in this way... and that you would show me mercy and forgive me. Lord, how can I ever be found worthy in your eyes? How can you ever see me as deserving of your forgiveness if it were not for your grace that eclipses my shortcomings which are such a shameful part of me? Forgive me Father, not because of anything I have done, but in spite of who I am. You separate my sins from me through the obedience, love, and sacrifice, of Jesus and then place them as far away from me as the east is from the west. Though I feel so undeserving of such love Father, you still call me friend, and at the mention of that word I fall before you in humble adoration, weeping at your forgiveness. I do so because I know that on occasion I have sent your Angels and Son away in unawares, and not been the friend to Him that He has been to me. Open my eyes in the moment of such encounters with your divine emissaries and Father help me to place you and Jesus ahead of myself always. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you my Lord and God who touches my heart and deserves all of my love, honor and obedience. Holy are you whose grace pours over me when I Love you with all my heart, mind, soul, and strength… and when I love my neighbor as myself. Teach me to place you first in my life, not only before myself, but before my father, mother, sons, and daughters… and, before all people, all things, and all would be gods. Hear me this day as I pray unto you and worship you as I should. See my heart Lord and know that you are first to me in all things… always and forevermore.
Amen.
“And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.
Luke 9:23-34 ESV
“Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.”
Matthew 10:37-38 ESV
““You shall have no other gods before me.”
Exodus 20:3 ESV
Rich Forbes