Who do you think you are?

When he noticed how the guests picked the places of honor at the table, he told them this parable: "When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited. If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, 'Give this man your seat.' Then, humiliated, you will have to take the least important place. But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, 'Friend, move up to a better place.' Then you will be honored in the presence of all your fellow guests. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." -- Luke 14: 7-11

The average Joe would more than likely agree with the idea that many people who find themselves in leadership positions in this day and age arrive to their position not due in any part to merit or worthiness. Sure there are some, but they are far and away outnumbered by those who have climbed the ranks due to charisma, personality, and their willingness to appease others in authority.

News flash! Self-centered personality driven leadership is old and ineffective. Take a look at the political arena today. People squabble over stupidity and the media jumps on it like a basset hound on a pork chop. People have lost faith in leaders of all kinds.

Politicians are constantly the source of jokes and bitter stories, and for good reason. Ask almost any common man or woman a few simple questions and it will not take you long to realize that most look on this nation's leadership with a skewed perception. We are almost numb to the idea that our leaders are self serving. That mentality has penetrated almost every walk of life we endeavor ourselves to.

However, there is a reason that these positions often harbor the moniker "public servant". Isn't it time people in places of leadership started truly serving those under their authority.

This might speak to more than just folks in the political arena.

You Are Never Alone

And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. - Luke 9:23

Living out this passage is sometimes simply beyond us. Actually, the means to do this is always beyond us. We don't have it in us to carry the cross daily.

Thankfully, for those of us that have experienced salvation, we do have Christ in our hearts. That makes it easier you see, because He's already been there. He already carried the cross up the hill. And guess what? He had help too. Simeon had just showed up for the yearly sacrifice, but was ordered by the Romans to assist Jesus in carrying His cross.

One of the greatest lies of the enemy is his attempt to make you think you're in this alone. You're not. You never were. You never will be.

I will never leave you, nor forsake you. - Hebrews 13:5b

Some days the cross you carry will feel like grace. Some days it will feel like a 300 pound block of wood. Some days it will feel like freedom. Some days it will feel like an archaic torture device. No matter the feeling, just know that you never carry your cross alone.

T is for Turn

Being reconciled to God along His plan of salvation means that at some point one must make a change.  In other words, you must eventually turn away from the habitual failures of the past to embrace a forgiving future life endowed by the Father.  Unless this turning to God takes place, there is no salvation.  A commonly used word for this act of turning to God is “repent”.

I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish – Luke 13:3

To turn to God is to embrace the realization that you need His forgiveness, you recognize it is available; you know it is impossible apart from Him, and you are desiring a new life.  I find it incredibly humbling that something with such far reaching affects can be accomplished with such ease.  One need only do as described in Romans 10:9 to find salvation.

If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. – Romans 10:9

Turning means to walk away from sin, and selfishness, to embrace Christ alone.