Saved to serve

What would it be like to have everything including the power to rule over all things? If it were me, how would I deal with that much privilege?

Since this will never happen, I cannot know for certain, but if that saying about the corruption that goes with power is true, then I would likely abuse it, using my privileges for selfish gain instead of helping others.

Jesus has that kind of power…

The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand. (John 3:35)

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. (Matthew 28:18)

(God) worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church… (Ephesians 1:20–22)

So what did Jesus do with it? Did He lord it over us, abusing this great power and using it for His own gain? Did He determine His own rules, live by His own desires? Of course not. He said, “Not My will but thine be done” and went to Calvary to die that we might live.

Before that happened, we are told in one situation that “He had to go through Samaria” (John 4:4). His purpose was to grant grace to a sinful woman at a well. He even skipped eating to do it. His life is filled with example after example of selfless love, using His power to bless and heal others.

The demonstration of His loving power that touches my heart today is this description of His meal with the disciples...

Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. (John 13:3–5)

Christ is exalted to the honor and majesty of having everything placed in his hands. I would be proud of that position, even look down on others, but Jesus humbled Himself. He knew He had everything placed in His hands, yet instead of pride, it humbled Him, even to do the task done by the lowest slaves —washing dirty feet.

This is His character. He humbled himself to put on human nature and shed His blood for our sin. He humbles himself to come and live in our hearts. He washed feet, but also washes hearts that are full of pride, sin, and selfishness.

This is the purpose for His high position of power and privilege — that He can pardon and purge guilty, polluted sinners. He knew that bestowing grace was His honor. The lower He stoops the higher He is honored in the hearts of His people, in my heart.

I must remember two things. One is that Christ is high and lifted up yet still stoops to help me, a lowly and sinful creature. He has pity on me and helps me with all my struggles. He will never leave me or forsake me.

The second is that any power, ability or privilege that I have is not that I can boast or use it for any other kind of self-advancement, but that I respond in humility and serve others because of what He has done for me.