One thing I used to tell the kids when we would go outside was the first shall be last and the last shall be first. I used to tell them that because they would fight who would be first to go outside. I really don't know the backstory of the portion of scripture from Matthew 20. But I always used it. As I was on my way to work yesterday morning God reminded me of a story when the last became first. I wanted to share it with you.
A young lady was auditioning to be a part of a special program. Only a certain amount of people would actually be allowed to be a part of it. Out of 30-35 people who auditioned only 12 would be allowed in. Very slim odds when you were going up against the best. This lady, let's call her Marcy, went to her audition and gave her all. To her surprise, she was chosen to be in this exclusive program. Excited and nervous she went to her first day of class and loved it. She worked extremely hard through the year. Sometimes she excelled, and other times she learned a lot. When it came time for her final she went in to give her performance. She gave her best and pushed herself with all she had learned.
When she was invited to review her grade she was amazed to find out that she was in the top 3 of the group. Her director laughed and confessed to her that she was the lowest ranking in the audition process. The director didn't know if Marcy would actually go through the year and be asked to return or continue the following year. To her amazement, Marcy had taken direction and applied it to her craft. Marcy was humble and willing to be directed and corrected to grow and learn. She always knew that she wasn't the best in the class but she wanted to be a better performer. She took extra help and extra classes to better herself. She allowed other people to do things she really wanted to because she knew they would do it better.
I'm reminded of 1 Peter 5:6. Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand that he may lift you up in due time. In all things I do, I try to remember that there is someone out there better than me. There is someone out there that can do what I'm doing better than me. In ministry, I have to remember that one day someone may walk through the door who can do ANYTHING I do better than me. I have had to swallow my pride multiples times and say, God if there is someone better for the job, please let me have peace about allowing them to do it. That's really hard!
Pride is a terrible thing. If we have an attitude that WE are the ones that can do it and no one else, we deprive ourselves and others. God has created each person for a different calling in life. God has designed each person to do specific things in life. You may be a flower garden of talent and be able to serve in any area of ministry, or a single flower that only feels called to do one specific thing. This is where our relationship with Christ comes into play. We have to be able to hear what God is asking of us. God has to be able to direct our steps perfectly. But we have to be careful.
We cannot become arrogant and prideful in what we can do. The Bible tells us that Pride comes before destruction or the fall. The longer we stay humble, the better our heart posture is. We can be able to gracefully step out of a position that we need to step out of and step into things that God has for us.
May sure that you are in YOUR calling today. That you are where God has called you and not where you want you. Humble yourself and pray constantly. And remember, even if you are doing something that seems unimportant, BUT YOU ARE SERVING, God sees that. And eventually you will be promoted in God's perfect timing. Have a great Thursday!
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