Jesus Taking Out My Trash?

So I've recently been contemplating the humility of God and studying meekness. I've been studying Matthew 5:5 where Jesus says, "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth." Meekness is faithfully cultivating a servant's heart to esteem others better than yourself. The one who is meek lays down his life for others. He is gentle, tender, kind, patient, and not looking out for himself. He is not always demanding his own rights or his own way He is not focused on himself. He's doesn't defend himself. He doesn't always have to be right, have the last word, win the argument, or prove his point. The one who is meek is given to serving others, to taking the low place, and to living for the benefit of others. More and more I am coming to see how much I lack meekness!

Why does God require meekness of us? I believe primarily because He is the God who is meek; He is the Humble King. He leads in humility and governs the earth in meekness. Meekness is one of the core values of His Kingdom.

Jesus embodied meekness as He walked on the earth. In John 13, He does the unthinkable! He washes the feet of His disciples. This was the lowest job reserved for the slave of the house. And here God takes a towel and a basin of water, bends down and begins to scrub caked dirt, mud, and animal waste, etc off of the feet of the disciples. We all remember the story. When it's Peter's turn, he freaks out a little bit. He had an authentic revelation of who Jesus was, none other than Messiah, the very Son of God. And He cries, 'No! Jesus, you will NEVER wash my feet!' We are quick to criticize Peter, but let's put it in a little more modern scenario. Can you imagine Jesus, in all of His glory, showing up at your house for no other reason but to take out your trash! This is not beneath Him to do that. I can hear it now, "No! Jesus, not You. You don't have to do that. I'll take out the trash. You can't take out my trash. It's trash and You're God!"

Our God is a servant. We can never receive Him as King until we first receive Him as our Servant. It is humility for God to even look at things in heaven and in the earth (Psalm 113) and yet He takes great delight in embracing meekness and humility daily to serve you and I. Every time He speaks to us, every time He provides for us, every time He heals us, He is putting His humility on display. He is the God of Humility and Meekness, the One who is the slave of all, (Mark 10:44) and He invites you and I to be just like Him. I want to live a life of meekness!

Let Him Kiss Me

In the book of Song of Solomon, we find the greatest love story ever told. We are given an allegory of the love that Jesus, as represented by King Solomon has for us His church, as represented by the Shulamite. The Song begins in verse one where the young maiden cries out 'Let him kiss me with the kisses of His mouth, for your love is better than wine.' Mouth here could be better translated as Word. She in essence is saying, 'Let him kiss me with His word.' This is not to be understood as a sensual request, but rather a cry for revelation and to experience His love. She is asking for her heart to be awakened in the love of God. She wants revelation to come and her heart to be moved by God. She wants to know Jesus, His heart, His emotions, the way that He feels about her. She has heard about the beauty of intimacy with Jesus, but now she is crying to experience it for herself.

We weren't made to live at a distance from God. We weren't created to live bored with God and blinded by religion. Our hearts were made to flow back in forth in love and intimacy with Jesus our Bridegroom. We were made to live in the romance. Our hearts weren't made to be romanced by movies, novels, or other cheap thrills. The highest expression of romance was not even meant to be shared with another human being, but rather with God. He is the Author of Romance. He is love and He created us in order that He might lavish His affection upon us. We were designed to experience the incomparable love of God.

Do you ever wonder why we have always loved fairytales? We love the story of the handsome, charming, strong, benevolent King who falls in love with the poor girl who has nothing to offer him but love itself. We rejoice, when against all odds he wins her heart, fighting any foe who would stand in his way and seek to harm his beloved. Why do we love these stories? Why will we watch movie after movie simply re-telling this age old tale? Because it is our story--it's the story of the Gospel. Jesus the King of all Kings has fallen in love with us, those who have nothing to offer Him. He is determined to fight for us, to win our hearts, to destroy all that hinders love in our lives, until He has all of us. This is not just a fairy tale; it's the Romance of the Ages; it's our story.

The young maiden in the Song cries out 'Your love is better than wine.' She has tasted of His love and is convinced that it is better than anything, than everything. When we really taste of His love, we'll forsake the 'wine' of this world. We'll leave behind all the passing pleasures of sin. This love truly satisfies. The love of Jesus is absolutely intoxicating. See we were made to live addicted. We were made to experience pleasure. All the addictions to be found in this life, all that brings us momentary pleasures, are cheap counterfeits. There is no greater inebriant than experiencing the love of the Bridegroom Jesus. His love is better than wine!

Today I want Jesus to kiss my heart with His word. I want a spirit of revelation, that I might know Him, that I might believe in the love He has for me. I want to experience a love that is better than the choicest of wine. I want to be romanced by the Bridegroom Jesus...Let Him kiss me.

--Jamie