no servant is greater than his master

I'm not going to lie, I have fully mastered the egotistical, prideful, self-satisfying art of serving to make my good deeds known to other people. But when it comes to the simple, menial tasks involved in loving people I fail miserably.

Again God? You really want me to do this? I try complaining, even a laughable attempt at logic. Why me? Why do I have to do this? I already have gone far beyond my duty as a Christian. In fact, if I do what you ask, I'm reinforcing the idea that actions don't have consequences. And you know how people my age aren't very good at being responsible. You want me to help them be even more irresponsible?

Sometimes I think that God, who does whatever he pleases, sits in heaven just laughing at our antics.

"For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." Mark 10:45

Coming before the King of Glory, in receiving his grace, all rights are stripped away. What claim can I hold to but Jesus' blood?

"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,
being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father."
Philippians 2:5-11

recommended reading

This list makes me really happy. No joke.

http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/Articles/ByDate/2006/1616_What_are_some_books_that_DG_recommends/

Lion of the tribe of Judah

This is from Misty Edward's song People Get Ready:

I can hear the rhythm
of the Lion of the tribe of Judah

He's doing a new thing
So we're singing a new song

He's not a baby in a manger anymore
He's not a broken man on a cross
He didn't stay in the grave
And He's not staying in heaven forever!

He's alive
He's alive
He's alive
He's alive!

People get ready!
Jesus is coming!

People walking around
With their fingers in the their ears
Singing, "Da da da da da."
"I don't want to hear the sound of the coming King."

But He says, he says,
"Well, I have held my peace for
A long, long, long, long time
And in my silence you thought
That i was all together like you.
And in your heart you were settled in complacency
You said, 'He won't even respond.'
You said, 'He's not interested."
You said, 'He's dead and gone."
But I've been silent for such
A long, long, long, long time
But I'm about to gasp, to pant,
To cry out, to cry out,
I'm going to shout!"

Once again I'm going to shake
Everything that can be shaken
Once again I'm going to break
Everything that can be broken

Are you ready?
Are you ready for this?

Phones

http://www.boundless.org/2005/articles/a0001207.cfm

love love love

Stan talked at TSC last night about love-specifically loving through service. Some of his main points were:

1. God is good.
2. Jesus died to show his love for us.
3. God is love. (1 John 4:7)
4. Jesus died to show us God.
5. We love others by showing them God. (1 John 4:11-12)

It was good because I've been thinking for a while that our concept of love is skewed. Here's what Jesus says,

36"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" 37Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'^[b] 38This is the first and greatest commandment. 39And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'^[c] 40All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." Matthew 22:36-40

What gets me is, "love your neighbor as yourself." How do I love myself? What does that mean?

Essentially, the greatest thing I have ever done for myself is to believe in Jesus. I love myself so much that I don't want to spend eternity in hell. I want goodness and truth. I want my soul to go to heaven and I will follow Jesus because he is the only way to get there.

If this is how I love myself, then it is also how I must love my neighbor. How callous of me is it to satisfy my neighbor's hunger or cold or loneliness but not show him the greatest love known to mankind? Do I truly value Jesus' sacrifice? Do I realize that our happiness can be found in God alone?

I am so quick to fulfill my wants and desires with things of this world. Father God, turn our hearts back to you. You are Good. You are Love. In you we find rest and peace and joy. Our souls long for you and you alone. May we love ourselves as you have loved us and help us to love others in the same way. May we be so filled with the conviction that nothing we do for our neighbor is greater than showing them you.

Quotes-I'll add more later

"I have found that a man will usually be as much of a gentleman as a lady requires, and probably no more." - Elisabeth Elliot

"The whole gospel is very, very simple. Do you love me? Obey my commandments."
"Loving must be as normal to us as living and breathing, day after day until our death."
- Mother Teresa

"There are no U-Hauls behind hearses." - Piper

The Bestest

Here's a list of the books that have influenced me the most aside from the Bible:

The Pursuit of God, A.W. Tozer
Bruchko, Bruce Olson
Irresistible Revolution, Shaine Clairborne
No Greater Love, Mother Teresa
Passion and Purity, Elisabeth Elliot
Hind's Feet in High Places, Hannah Hurnard
The Cross and the Switchblade, David Wilkerson
Anna Karenina, Leo Tolstoy

Be Still

I've been thinking a lot about the importance of solitude and silence, turning the music off long enough to actually know God. Often I use noice to get away from God. When I'm silent I have to come face to face with who I am and how great God is in comparison. I am compelled to acknowledge my sin and do something about it.

"We cannot find God in noise and agitation.

Nature: trees, flowers, and grass grow in silence. The stars, the moon, and the sun move in silence.

What is essential is not what we say but what God tells us and what He tells others through us.

In silence He listens to us; in silence He speaks to our souls. In silence we are granted the privilege of listening to His voice.

Silence of our eyes.
Silence of our ears.
Silence of our mouths.
Silence of our minds.
...in the silence of the heart
God will speak."

---Mother Teresa