Friday, January 22, 2010

My Rights vs. Pursuing Christ

“Your attitude should be the same that Christ Jesus had. Though He was God, He did not demand and cling to His rights as God.” Philippians 2:5, 6

Jesus gave up His rights. Am I willing to do the same? Am I giving up all of my perceived and legitimate rights? Rights mean nothing in my pursuit of Christ! I want to be so desperate for Jesus that I give up any right for Him.

God brought to mind a couple of rights that I still demand and cling to.

The right to be happy.
Happiness is not a right, but the result of positive happenstances. That is actually where we get the word happy. The definition of happenstance is “a chance circumstance”. Given enough positive, random events and one is happy. I don’t want a happy disposition dependant upon circumstance but a cheerful countenance sourced from the inexhaustible wellspring of Christ’s joy!

The right to be fulfilled.
I am speaking in regards to the worlds standards of fulfillment which undoubtedly press against me. As an alien and stranger visiting this place, the paths leading to fulfillment for citizens of earth will never bring fully satisfying fulfillment to me. God’s will concerning me is specifically tailored for how He created me. I was uniquely woven in character, personality, temperament, talent, mind and body to find complete and perfect satisfaction within the confines of God’s plan for my life!

Complete fulfillment and deep joy—regardless of circumstance—can be mine by willingly forfeiting the rights I think I have for those I truly want.

Seeing the cross of Christ as the right I desire to carry. This truth may be simple to recognize. The pursuit is to determinedly wrap my fleshly yearnings around it.