Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. 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! (Philippians 2:3-8)
God’s ways are above our ways and his thoughts above our thoughts. He doesn’t follow human logic or our standard rules of behavior, which say to look out for ‘number one’ – for self. It is fortunate for us that he does not. God looks down with incomprehensible mercy on us, his servants, his creations. He has compassion on our lowly and helpless condition. But his compassion goes far beyond a mere feeling or lip service – more than a passing, “Isn’t that too bad?” His mercy takes effective action. God, who is almighty and able to save, does the most amazing thing for us.
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. (John 3:16-17)
We are forever in God’s debt and therefore his perpetual bondservants. So what is the appropriate response? God gives us direction in his Word. Reread today’s Philippians passage above, which tells us to take the attitude Jesus had during his incarnation. Like Jesus, we are to be willing to serve others in humility and obedience to God, not demanding whatever rights and privileges we may think we’re entitled to. Another verse that comes to mind is Micah 6:8. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.
Can you think of ways to put these commands into practice? It could be washing feet – literally, as Jesus did, or metaphorically. Is there an elderly person in your life who needs your touch of kindness? Is there someone society has overlooked to whom God is calling you to minister with the love of Christ? Pray God will overcome whatever reluctance you have, giving you a humble servant’s heart and the obedience to go where he sends you in Jesus’ name.
Let Us Pray
Lord God in heaven, look down with mercy on your servants. We thank you for sending Jesus to save us and to set us the perfect example of a godly life. Help us to respond as we should to his great sacrifice on our behalf. We are your bondservants, Almighty God. Guide us into a life of service to others in Jesus’ name. Amen
Let Us Praise
Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of Creation! Oh my soul, praise Him for He is your health and salvation! Let all who hear, now to his temple draw near, joining in glad adoration. Praise to the Lord! Oh, let all that is in me adore him! All that has life and breath, come now with praises before him! Let the amen sound from his people again. Gladly forever adore him! (traditional hymn: “Praise to the Lord, the Almighty,” text by Joachim Neander, 1650-1680)
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By Special Invitation
Almighty God… accept the petitions now offer’d up unto thee.
When I read this line, I was struck anew by what an audacious thing it seems that people (in Jane Austen’s day or any other) should dare to come before God Almighty with their petitions and requests. Considering that to approach even an earthly king without his express summons could sometimes mean death, how much more brazen it is to presume to approach the King of Kings!
Then [Esther] instructed him to say to Mordecai, “All the king’s officials and the people of the royal provinces know that for any man or woman who approaches the king in the inner court without being summoned, the king has but one law: that he be put to death. The only exception to this is for the king to extend the gold scepter to him and spare his life. (Esther 4:11)
In Old Testament times, God taught his people this same kind of reverential fear about coming into his presence. To look upon God’s face or touch the Ark of the Covenant meant certain death. For the Israelites’ own protection, a heavy curtain hung in the tabernacle during their desert wanderings, and later in the Jerusalem temple, to prevent any unauthorized approach to God. Only the high priest, once a year under the protection of sacrificial blood, could enter the Holy of Holies, the seat of God’s presence among them. That was God’s prescribed protocol, and to violate it invited the most serious consequences.
Mr. Darcy was not exactly a king, and Mr. Collins didn’t risk death, only social suicide, when at the Netherfield ball he approached the master of Pemberley uninvited.
Elizabeth tried hard to dissuade him from such a scheme; assuring him that Mr. Darcy would consider his addressing him without introduction as an impertinent freedom, rather than a compliment to his aunt; that it was not in the least necessary there should be any notice on either side, and that if it were, it must belong to Mr. Darcy, the superior in consequence, to begin the acquaintance. Mr. Collins listened to her with the determined air of following his own inclination… (Pride and Prejudice, chapter 18)
Mr. Collins ignored the warning and proceeded to “attack” an astonished and offended Mr. Darcy. By not acknowledging the wide gap in their relative positions, Mr. Collins committed a serious breach of social protocol.
Obviously, a sinful human being coming into the presence of Almighty God without invitation or introduction would be a far greater impertinence than Mr. Collins’s faux pas, since the gap in relative positions is immeasurably wider. The difference is that we have been introduced to God. We have been invited into his presence. He extends his scepter to us every time we approach his throne in prayer.
God himself made this possible; he made the first move, as was only right. To paraphrase Jane Austen, It must belong to [God], the one [infinitely] superior in consequence, to begin the acquaintance. And God did so, reaching out to make himself known to the human race from the beginning – through his creation; through his dealings with his people; through his Word; through his Son’s incarnation; and then finally through his indwelling Holy Spirit. The way to God is and always has been open to us through prayer.
Because God took the initiative, we have not only been introduced to him, we have been adopted as his sons and daughters through faith in Jesus Christ. We can come before our Heavenly Father anytime – not only “can” but should. As we are told in 1 Thessalonians 5:17, pray continually. Ephesians 6:18-19 goes even further:
And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for the saints. Pray also for me… (emphasis added)
And there are plenty of other places in Scripture that instruct us to pray. Why? In obedience, yes, but also because it’s an important part of keeping our relationship with God vibrant and growing. God desires close communication with us, just as we do with our dearest friends and family members. We want to hear from them, especially when they are away. We want to know all their successes, their heartaches, and their fears. We long to help them in their times of trouble, if only they would ask. We feel loved and appreciated when they want to spend time with us, sharing meaningful conversation.
Is it any surprise that our heavenly Father, who loves us more than any human friend possibly can, feels much the same? Although he knows everything without our telling him, he still desires that we would talk to him frequently throughout the day. He wants us to come to him with all our joys, sorrows, and concerns. He is ready to help us through whatever trials we face. All we need to do is ask.
Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. (Hebrews 4:16)
When we pray, it is an offering to God, as suggested in today’s petition – an offering given out of love, not obligation. Prayer is an enormous blessing for us as well, of course. As the old song says, What a privilege to carry everything to God
in prayer! The King of the Universe has invited us to talk to him in prayer anytime. Will you accept his invitation?
Let Us Pray
Almighty God, thank you that, despite our unworthiness, you love us and invite us into your presence every day through prayer. Forgive us for sometimes neglecting this gift or taking it for granted. As you are always faithful to hear and answer, may we be likewise faithful to carry all our trials, temptations, joys, and sorrows to you in prayer in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Let Us Praise
Ascribe to the LORD, O families of nations, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength, ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name. Bring an offering and come before him; worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness. (1 Chronicles 16:28-29)
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Confession: Good for the Soul
Pardon Oh! God the offences of the past day. We are conscious of many frailties; we remember with shame & contrition, many evil Thoughts & neglected duties…
Sin. Yes, we’re back to that uncomfortable subject again. No apologies, though, for we can’t expect a fulfilling relationship with a holy god unless we are prepared to address that fundamental problem head on. It was sin that first created the vast divide between God and mankind. And now, even for those who are saved, sin is still our persistent enemy. To one degree or another, it continues to separate us from our maker as well as from our fellow creatures.
I know sin isn’t a popular topic these days. If people acknowledge its existence at all, we tend to design our own modern definitions of sin rather than accepting God’s unchanging one, consciously or unconsciously drawing the lines to exclude our personal actions from our abbreviated list of culpable offences. Rather than being conscious of many frailties, we tend to be blind to our own shortcomings. And from there, it’s an easy step to denying any need for shame, for contrition, and for a savior. In our upside-down world, in fact, sin is often openly flaunted, even celebrated.
Hmm. Flaunting, even celebrating sin? Maybe that’s not entirely a new development. I’m thinking of Lydia Bennet and Mr. Wickham now, who seemed perfectly unconscious of having done anything wrong by running off together without benefit of marriage. They were apparently indifferent to the potential consequences to themselves and others. Returning to Longbourn after their belated wedding…
The easy assurance of the young couple, indeed, was enough to provoke [Mr. Bennet]. Elizabeth was disgusted, and even Miss Bennet was shocked. Lydia was Lydia still; untamed, unabashed, wild, noisy, and fearless. She turned from sister to sister, demanding their congratulations… Wickham was not at all more distressed than herself… Elizabeth had not before believed him quite equal to such assurance; but she sat down, resolving within herself, to draw no limits in future to the impudence of an impudent man. She blushed, and Jane blushed; but the cheeks of the two who caused their confusion, suffered no variation of colour… and Lydia led voluntarily to subjects, which her sisters would not have alluded to for the world. (Pride and Prejudice, chapter 51)
So what does this example prove? That nothing has changed… or has it? The difference is that Lydia’s and Wickham’s attitudes and actions represent the majority now, rather than the exception. You’ll notice in that situation two hundred years ago, the rational, reasonable, honorable majority was shocked, disgusted, and embarrassed over what had happened. They knew the offense was serious enough to ruin the reputation and social standing of the entire family, if it should become widely known.
But there’s no danger of that happening today. Such things are far too commonplace to be shocking anymore. Sadly, only a shrinking minority would even perceive anything wrong in that couple’s behavior now.
What has not changed, however, is God Himself. His character and Word never alter, and neither does his definition of sin.
Your word, O LORD, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens. Your faithfulness continues through all generations; you established the earth, and it endures. Your laws endure to this day, for all things serve you. If your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction. I will never forget your precepts, for by them you have preserved my life. Save me, for I am yours; I have sought out your precepts. The wicked are waiting to destroy me, but I will ponder your statutes. To all perfection I see a limit; but your commands are boundless. (Psalms 119:89-96)
Is the same true for you? Is God’s law your delight, your place of solace and refuge? Or do God’s uncompromising character and his immutable law sometimes make you uncomfortable by showing how far and how often you fall short?
If your sin makes you uneasy, rejoice! For that means your conscience is alive and the Holy Spirit is active in you! Your Heavenly Father has not given you over to ungodliness. Your thinking has not become so futile nor your heart so dark as to be beyond reach (Romans 1:21-32). No, far from it! God is at work in you day by day. He corrects those he loves and calls his children. He convicts and sanctifies us, gradually conforming us to the image of Jesus. We can be reassured because,
…we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. (Romans 8:28-29)
God will complete the good work he has begun in you (Philippians 1:6). In the meantime, be sensitive to and grateful for his conviction. Be persistent in prayer, including prayers of confession. Be quick to ask his forgiveness and the forgiveness of others. Confession truly is good for the soul.
Let Us Pray
Holy God, forgive our sins for Jesus’ sake, and pardon our reluctance to see and confess them. By your Holy Spirit, make our hearts more sensitive to your loving correction, and bend our wills to yours, so that we may daily grow more and more like your Son. May we always delight in your perfect, unchanging character and Word as the solid foundations of our lives. Amen.
Let Us Praise
I will proclaim the name of the LORD. Oh, praise the greatness of our God! He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright, and just is he. (Deuteronomy 32:3)
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Sins Forgotten
…we have perhaps sinned against Thee & against our fellow-creatures in many instances of which we have now no remembrance.
I haven’t picked on Mr. Bennet yet, but this may be the appropriate time, since today’s prayer petition seems to suggest the problem of unconscious and unremembered sins. Are you surprised? Well, if you can’t remember Mr. Bennet’s sins, you’re probably not alone. I suspect he doesn’t either!
Mr. Bennet isn’t a hardcore villain by any means; he’s not out there intentionally creating havoc or doing dastardly deeds. He’s not dealing dishonestly with his neighbor, beating his children, or cheating on his wife. In fact, he seems pretty innocuous, and we tend to like him a lot – at least partly, I suspect, because of how he’s portrayed in film adaptations of Pride and Prejudice, as completely harmless and rather charming.
When we delve a little deeper, however, we discover a seriously flawed man who causes a lot of damage to his family – unintentionally, perhaps, but the results are the same. Mr. Bennet is described as indolent (lazy, idle, apathetic), which leads to neglecting his daughters’ discipline and failing to make adequate financial provisions for his family. And then there are the crimes against his wife.
Elizabeth, however, had never been blind to the impropriety of her father’s behaviour as a husband. She had always seen it with pain; but respecting his abilities, and grateful for his affectionate treatment of herself, she endeavoured to forget what she could not overlook, and to banish from her thoughts that continual breach of conjugal obligation and decorum which, in exposing his wife to the contempt of her own children, was so highly reprehensible. But she had never felt so strongly as now, the disadvantages which must attend the children of so unsuitable a marriage, nor ever been so fully aware of the evils arising f
rom so ill-judged a direction of talents; talents which rightly used, might at least have preserved the respectability of his daughters, even if incapable of enlarging the mind of his wife. (Pride and Prejudice, chapter 42)
What about it? Doesn’t “highly reprehensible” seem a bit severe? The way Mr. Bennet treats his wife (and sometimes others) could easily be put down to good-natured teasing, right? We’re constantly exposed to much worse, so this doesn’t stand out as particularly egregious. Besides, we find Mrs. Bennet ridiculous too, don’t we? So how could Mr. Bennet help saying the things he does?
Hmm. Is this sounding like someone else we know?
“Nay, how could I help saying what I did? Nobody could have helped it. I was not so very bad. I dare say she did not understand me.” (Emma, chapter 43)
It’s difficult for us to judge Emma or Mr. Bennet too harshly because we tend to excuse the same sort of “minor” offenses in ourselves. Who hasn’t had some clever but cutting remark pop out of the mouth before it could be stopped? It was probably laughed off and soon forgotten… by everybody except the one on the receiving end – the butt of the unkind joke. If anyone should be safe from such attacks, it ought to be the person we’ve sworn before God to love and respect as long as we both shall live. Was Mr. Bennet acting in love when he ridiculed his wife in front of their children and others? The Bible tells us what real love is like:
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