“He said to them, “What do you want Me to do for you?” They said to Him, “Grant us to sit, one at Your right hand and the other at Your left hand, in Your glory.” (Mark 10:36-37 MEV)
When you get in the habit of being God conscious, you will see things that other will miss. For instance, I was stopped at a stoplight on one of my few ventures out of the house Monday. I’m behind a car that has a license plate frame that says at the top in a large font, “Jesus Loves You.” That makes anyone who needs to feel loved smile. That was my reaction. But I kept reading the frame, seeing how the traffic light appeared as it would never change. On the bottom of the frame it said in a smaller font, “But, I’m His Favorite!” I said to myself, “I’m His favorite too!” The stoplight, with obvious a broken time with a procrastinating attitude, trying to prod our emotions, shift them from relaxed to raged; it is still red. So there I was waiting and prompted to wonder if any of the other disciples over heard the request of the two in the text above. And did they ask themselves, “Why do they think they are the favorites?” You know how we are. Somebody in the family is going to feel like that when presents are opened on Christmas morning. You were right the one day. Go ahead and admit it.
Back to the story! The light turns green and it’s time to focus on driving safely. But I can’t turn the page of my thoughts. I’m still thinking about the license plate frame and I actually said it aloud, “We are all His favorites! He came to save all of us! He died for all of us while we were yet sinners! And when it comes to believers, those who are His disciples and friends as defined by Jesus, He loves all of us the same!” I drive on, but all day I thought about that license plate frame.
This morning, obviously I’m still thinking about it! I have questions! Couldn’t the frame maker just put the words on the top of the frame, “Jesus Loves You,” and leave it at that? Or, at least couldn’t the frame maker have added a different bottom line, perhaps, “Nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus?” You are right! Maybe that wouldn’t fit on the bottom of the frame, too many words. So how about these words; four words that will connect with the message at the top of the frame and serve as a constant challenge for you today, written in a larger font, “So live like it!” Let’s do it! Be blessed!
“Greater love has no one than this, that a person will lay down his life for his friends. You are My friends if you do what I command you.” (John 15: 13-14 NASB)
Still committed to the climb,
Mark L. King