“And why you you call Me ‘Lord, Lord’ and do not do what I say?” (Luke 6:46).  “And if I am Master, where is My respect?” says the LORD of Hosts (Malachi 1:6).

At least once everyday, in some supermarket checkout line in this country, a two year old child willfully disobeys his mother and, when corrected, replies, “You are not the boss of me!”.  We have all seen or experienced a sibling rivalry  or some “friendly” competition at work, both of which are often rooted in one person trying to get the upper hand over another.  Marriages are derailed by “power struggles” and jails are full of people who “have a problem with authority”.  In the Bible, even the disciples argued (in front of Jesus!) about who was the greatest and who would be shown the highest honor in heaven (Matt 18:1, Matt 20:20-28, Mark 9:33-35, Mark 10:35-41). Earlier than that, earlier than everything, Eve was tempted by the devil to seek equal footing with God (Gen. 3:1-7).  The Flesh fights to be first, to win at all costs, and win the right to rule itself and others.  This is the way of the World.  This is the way of the Ruler of this World: How you have fallen from heaven, morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations! You said in your heart, “I will ascend to the heavens;I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of Mount Zaphon.I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.” But you are brought down to the realm of the dead, to the depths of the pit (Isaiah 14:12-15).

Again our flesh has lied to us!  Oh, it cannot be trusted.  We think that winning the argument or forcing our way to the front of the line should make us feel better, but most often, it just leaves us feeling flat.  Why is that?  Because, in following the way of the world, we are not living life according to God’s plan.  If we are sowing seeds of strife, we cannot have a harvest of peace.  And when we are out of sync with God, we are destined to seek satisfaction…and find none.  God calls us to be last, not first (Matt 20:16).  So who should be first?  There is a scripture that my children have memorized that answers this very well: And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you? He requires only that you fear the Lord your God, and live in a way that pleases him, and love him and serve him with all your heart and soul (Deut. 10:12).  Another memory verse says this: Jesus replied: “‘˜Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘˜Love your neighbor as yourself” (Matt 22:37-40).

We are called to serve the Lord.  He is not here to serve us.  He is our Adonai – our Master.  We are to subject our will to His. our selves to Him.  This feels so unnatural when we follow the ways of the World.  But following His way begins to feel more comfortable the more we do it.  And it is the only way to real peace.  God’s Word is clear on this point: Serve and honor the LORD; be glad and tremble (Ps 2:11).

But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve…but as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD (Josh. 24:15).

JustaGirl…just like you