As of right now, I am on chapter 12 of Humility, but I want to blog about the whole book. I need to just make a point to sit down and blog, rather than letting it build up like this. So, here is chapters 3 & 4.
In chapter 3 he talks about Greatness Redefined. In this chapter, C.J. Mahaney talks about the verses in Mark, when the desciples are descussing who is the greatest out of the twelve. How often have you wondered if you are the greatest? Being involved and consumed in sports as much I was, this was something I struggled with... almost daily. And how often, after serving in any kinda way, do we lift ourselves up? Whether we keep it to ourselves or share it with others. Either way it's pride, and we are taking all the glory from God.
In Mark 10:43-44 Jesus says, "But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all". Mahaney goes on to say, "As sinfully and culturally defined, pursuing greatness looks like this: Individuals motivated by self-interest, self-indulgence, and a false sense of self-sufficiency pursue selfish ambition for the purpose of self-glorification. Contrast that with the pursuit of true greatness as biblically defined: Serving others for the glory of God. This is the genuine expression of humility; this is true greatness as the Savior defined it." Just like it says in 1 Corinthians 10:31, "So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." Do ALL! Doesn't say half, or almost, but ALL. That's how I want to live! Doing all for the glory of God!
When he moves on to chapter 4, he talks about Greatness Demonstrated. He starts off in the second paragraph with, "Here's an essential truth: To learn true humility, we need more than a redefinition of greatness; we need even more than Jesus' personal example of humble service. What we need is His death. Listen again to what Jesus said in Mark 10:45: 'For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.' The Savior here is clarifying for His desciples the difference betweenn His example and theirs; He's emphasizing the uniqueness of His own sacrifice. He's telling them not only that true greatness is attained by emulating His axample, but also that true greatness is not even possible for us apart from the Savior's unique sacrifice."
Remember the verse he gave, Mark 10:45? "For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." He goes on to talk about the ransom. He gives a quote from Donald English which I loved. "Ransom was a familiar image in the Jewish, Roman, and Greek cultures. It was the price paid to liberate a slave, a prisoner of war, or a condemned person". I've always heard us referred to as that, the ransom, but have never really thought to much about it. But this changed my view of it totally! Me, a slave, a prisoner, someone who is condemned... to what though? Sin. Sin has made me a prisoner. This hit me harder than it has before. I was speechless. But because of the work Chirst did on the cross, I am set free! I've been paid for! "A divine rescue is absolutely necessary" as C.J. says.
Towards the end of the chapter, C.J. gives a quote by Leon Morris.
"God created man, created him to be His own.... God set him in Eden to live in fellowship with Him, but man sinned. Man became the slave of evil. He cannot break free. This is precisely the situation that the ancient world saw as calling for an act of redemption. We who belong to God have gotten into the power of a strong enemy from which we cannot break free. If I can say it reverently, God, if He wants us back, must pay the price.
And the great teaching of the New Testament is that God has paid the price. He has redeemed us. Christ became our Redeemer.... To release the slaves of sin He paid the price. We were in captivity. We were in the strong grip of evil. We could not break free. But the price was paid and the result is that we go free."
We go free! That just makes me want to jump up and worship! What about you?
"By this we know love, that Christ laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers." - 1 John 3:16
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