Humility

"We are not on earth to impress each other."  This is the thought that is echoing in my brain today.  What a pointless and tragic life I would lead if my aim were to have as many people as possible think well of me.  

Revelation 3:17-21 (NASB) says, "Because you say, 'I am rich, and have become wealthy and have need of nothing,' and you do not know that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind and naked; I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich; and white garments so that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see. Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent.  Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.  He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne."

What did Jesus overcome?  John 16:33 tells us that He has overcome the world!  What is more worldly than thinking more highly of ourselves than we ought???  What is more worldly than thinking that this life and my own fame and glory is all there is?  Philippians 2:6-7 tell us that even though Jesus was GOD, he didn't consider his God-ship to be something to grasp on to and claim at all costs... rather HE MADE HIMSELF NOTHING and took on the nature of a servant.  

How would life be different if as Christians, we did not grasp on to our perceived rights and privileges or spend our time maintaining our reputation in the eyes of men, and instead made ourselves of no reputation, seeing ourselves as we really are and others as they really are and truly believing that overcoming the temptation to elevate ourselves is a daily priority?  What if we lived like we believed that dining with Jesus at a celebratory "overcoming supper" was better than any accolade we could receive here on earth?

Oh let it be true of me today!