Christ: redeemer and guide
āHis state was divine, yet He did not cling to His equality with God, but emptied Himself to assume the condition of a slave (one who lives to serve others without guarantee of reward) and became as men are, He was humbler yet, even to accepting death on a cross.ā [Philippians: 2:6]
Our God, Your Son Jesus relinquished all, even His human life, to redeem each person from ingratitude and disobedience. Jesus reiterated His choice by refusing to rely upon supernatural power to achieve personal comfort or to fulfil His mission. He chose to remain actively human, reliant upon faith and divine mercy. He struggled and suffered, yet remained loving and compliant. Let His example of authentic life inspire me to live by love and faith.
I cannot imagine the magnitude of self-deprivation of the divine Son in fully accepting the human condition. Like everyone else, I embody something of the poverty that Jesus endured in His humanity, for only God, through Your Spirit of love, can make me good or fruitful. Only You can bless any other person through me or my prayers or efforts.
I invoke the Spiritās action in my attempts to pray and to serve others. If my efforts fail, either You act and bless beyond my perception, or I fail dismally in my love, prayer and service! Yes, of course, I do, but I affirm faith in Your mercy. I ask faith to accept that through Your mercy that I may not be as spiritually mediocre or bankrupt as I feel. I may be exceedingly worse, but I trust that You will supply even through such a poor instrument.
It is reassuring to reflect that at his death, Jesus, God incarnate, past miracles aside, ultimately was confronted with āfailureā. The crowds who had flocked to follow Him and all who heralded Him with palm branches now deserted or condemned Him. He, who lived so charitably and well, was maligned, ridiculed, tortured and disgraced. His people had rejected and condemned Him. With few exceptions, His closest friends and disciples abandoned Jesus, as indeed You, His divine Father, appeared to have done.
How can we expect a better result for our efforts than the loving, sinless Son of God? This may not explain failure but it is reminder that as āthe servant is not greater than the Masterā why should I expect otherwise? Unlike Jesus I am often genuinely unworthy of better outcomeābut I trust to Your mercy for the fulfilment of whatever hope You have in my life and in the lives of my dear ones and of everyone within our influence.
With Jesus, with all His disciples, I rely on Your promise that all will be made holy according to Your purpose. God please fulfil all that You intend for Your glory and for the salvation of others and me. 2000
