Post by Zac Loh on Mar 2, 2009 14:02:34 GMT -5
The attached devotional message encourages us to look to Jesus as our role model. He is truly our champion and hero. Because He is the author and perfecter of our faith, He will always be the best example for us to live our life by.
`Give up our rights' is applicable to our relationship with God. It means that we are even willing to lose our own personal identity; giving up what we like to do, including the things that we might have deemed as innocent. In relationship with others, we `give up our rights' so that others may experience the love of God.
Give Up Our Rights
Matthew 27:39-44
And those who passed by blasphemed Him, wagging their heads and saying, “You who destroy the temple and build it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross.” Likewise the chief priests also, mocking with the scribes and elders, said, “He saved others; Himself He cannot save. If He is the King of Israel, let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe Him. He trusted in God; let Him deliver Him now if He will have Him; for He said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” Even the robbers who were crucified with Him reviled Him with the same thing. (Matthew 27:39-44)
Our new neighbor parked their car at the little piece of land by the road shared by both houses in-front. We live in a linked-house. What is so outstanding is that our new neighbor parked a car there and removed all four tires. It was on for months. This makes this parking space unavailable to everybody. Where are our rights? This is so unfair. We struggled with this issue.
Jesus had 12 legions of angels at His disposal. But He did not exercise His rights to use them. He made one of the ultimate sacrifices: He refrained from proving Himself in the face of relentless assault on His dignity.
While thinking of a more contemporary story which any ordinary Joe can relate to, I was brought back to an old, old Tamil movie starred by the famous Sivaji. I didn’t actually watch this movie but clips of it because a TV channel was on a campaign paying tribute to the late Sivaji.
In this scene, a young woman was slowly seduced by the rich man. It happened in the rich man’s mansion when nobody was around. Realizing she was about to be molested, the young woman fought back. The rich man towered over her and empowered her.
In the next scene, I saw Sivaji speeding in a car. If I’m not mistaken, the young woman had telephoned Sivaji earlier, but was quickly stopped by the rich man.
When the line was abruptly cut, Sivaji’s face turned intense and his behavior showed such a high degree of urgency …even in the way he was driving the car …sweating profusely …thinking the worse (his face showed it all, you know, high drama!).
At the mansion, the rich man was grappling …and the young woman was fighting him off …getting-up …running away …felled to the floor again.
Suddenly, she managed to grab an empty liquor bottle, broke it in half, and stabbed the rich man in the stomach. Blood all over her hands. Police siren was now heard. Sivaji finally arrived at her side.
In an instant decision of great sacrifice, Sivaji persuaded the young woman to leave undetected. As she reluctantly left, Sivaji determined to shoulder the blame. Sivaji took hold of the broken bottle, put some of the blood upon himself, as the rich man laid there dead.
Next scene, Sivaji was behind bars, talking to the young woman. He insisted that she kept herself out of it, and let him bear the consequences. He was willing to take the fall because he reasoned that the woman would suffer too much. It was an expression of honor, an act of chivalry; because he knew he was able to endure prison more. What an emotional moment (they were both crying and all)!
The movie was pure fiction. Jesus’ account was all true. Jesus was willing to keep quiet when he was assailed. His honor was at stake. He could have been riled by such treatments. But He had chosen way beforehand to endure all for our sake.
Jesus didn’t use His rights – He loved us.
There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. (1 John 4:18)
Do you fear being taken advantage of? When you have the love of God for the person who had infringed your rights, it becomes easier to LET GO (with a genuine smile!).
`Give up our rights' is applicable to our relationship with God. It means that we are even willing to lose our own personal identity; giving up what we like to do, including the things that we might have deemed as innocent. In relationship with others, we `give up our rights' so that others may experience the love of God.
Give Up Our Rights
Matthew 27:39-44
And those who passed by blasphemed Him, wagging their heads and saying, “You who destroy the temple and build it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross.” Likewise the chief priests also, mocking with the scribes and elders, said, “He saved others; Himself He cannot save. If He is the King of Israel, let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe Him. He trusted in God; let Him deliver Him now if He will have Him; for He said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” Even the robbers who were crucified with Him reviled Him with the same thing. (Matthew 27:39-44)
Our new neighbor parked their car at the little piece of land by the road shared by both houses in-front. We live in a linked-house. What is so outstanding is that our new neighbor parked a car there and removed all four tires. It was on for months. This makes this parking space unavailable to everybody. Where are our rights? This is so unfair. We struggled with this issue.
Jesus had 12 legions of angels at His disposal. But He did not exercise His rights to use them. He made one of the ultimate sacrifices: He refrained from proving Himself in the face of relentless assault on His dignity.
While thinking of a more contemporary story which any ordinary Joe can relate to, I was brought back to an old, old Tamil movie starred by the famous Sivaji. I didn’t actually watch this movie but clips of it because a TV channel was on a campaign paying tribute to the late Sivaji.
In this scene, a young woman was slowly seduced by the rich man. It happened in the rich man’s mansion when nobody was around. Realizing she was about to be molested, the young woman fought back. The rich man towered over her and empowered her.
In the next scene, I saw Sivaji speeding in a car. If I’m not mistaken, the young woman had telephoned Sivaji earlier, but was quickly stopped by the rich man.
When the line was abruptly cut, Sivaji’s face turned intense and his behavior showed such a high degree of urgency …even in the way he was driving the car …sweating profusely …thinking the worse (his face showed it all, you know, high drama!).
At the mansion, the rich man was grappling …and the young woman was fighting him off …getting-up …running away …felled to the floor again.
Suddenly, she managed to grab an empty liquor bottle, broke it in half, and stabbed the rich man in the stomach. Blood all over her hands. Police siren was now heard. Sivaji finally arrived at her side.
In an instant decision of great sacrifice, Sivaji persuaded the young woman to leave undetected. As she reluctantly left, Sivaji determined to shoulder the blame. Sivaji took hold of the broken bottle, put some of the blood upon himself, as the rich man laid there dead.
Next scene, Sivaji was behind bars, talking to the young woman. He insisted that she kept herself out of it, and let him bear the consequences. He was willing to take the fall because he reasoned that the woman would suffer too much. It was an expression of honor, an act of chivalry; because he knew he was able to endure prison more. What an emotional moment (they were both crying and all)!
The movie was pure fiction. Jesus’ account was all true. Jesus was willing to keep quiet when he was assailed. His honor was at stake. He could have been riled by such treatments. But He had chosen way beforehand to endure all for our sake.
Jesus didn’t use His rights – He loved us.
There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. (1 John 4:18)
Do you fear being taken advantage of? When you have the love of God for the person who had infringed your rights, it becomes easier to LET GO (with a genuine smile!).