Power Predicaments - Part 4

DAILY BYTE

The way of Jesus leads us in totally different, upside-down directions when it comes to power. For Jesus calls us to follow him in the way of the cross – which is a way of downward mobility, a way of servanthood and love, a journey where we become less and God becomes more.

Jesus calls us to move away from a love of power and into the power of love.

Jesus’ response to the power plays of James and John in Mark 10 sums it up perfectly: "Whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be a slave of all. For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

So how then? How do we follow Jesus in his upside-down way? How do we take a stand against power and its subtle yet profoundly dangerous effects on our hearts and our relationships?

Well Jesus’ words, give us a number of suggestions. The first is this – "For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

These words challenge us to keep Jesus – the human face of God – as our constant example and inspiration. One of the most effective ways we can do so is through worship.

This is because worship is a continual reminder to us of who the power really is … and that it isn’t us!

Worship reminds us that no one has more power than God – creator and saviour of all - and yet God chose to lay down his power and become vulnerable for the sake of love.

Through Jesus, God became vulnerable enough so that nails could be driven through his flesh. This is God’s way – ‘for even the Son Man not come to be served, but to serve’ – and this is the way we been created to live as well.

Furthermore, worship should give us humility enough to confess our weaknesses when comes to issues like power. For when we look at how the greatest power of all chose a humble way of love for our sakes, then how can respond any differently?

PRAY AS YOU GO

Lord God, we pray that you would help us to move from the love of power to the power of love. Amen.

FOCUS READING

Mark 10:43b-45 (NIV)

Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."