Devotions this week based on the Message: “Counterfeit Gods: The Seduction of Success”
(NOTE: This sermon series and devotional series is based on a book by Tim Keller entitled, Counterfeit Gods.
You may choose to download or purchase the book as a supplement to your worship and devotional emails.)
If you had all the power in the world, what would you do with it?
I mean ALL the power…
Build yourself a mansion in your favorite location? Give everyone “A’s” on their report card for the year? Cure and eliminate CoVid? Rule the world? Never work another day in your life?
My guess is that no matter if your choices were self-serving or serving of others, none of you would use all the power in the world and voluntarily seek out a cross on which to be crucified.
No one would.
Except one.
Philippians 2:6-8 [Jesus], being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; 7 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!
The all-powerful Son of God ALLOWED himself to be nailed to the cross.
Why?
Jesus chose to use all the power he had as true God to SERVE and to SAVE us.
He could have struck down those that arrested him. He could have come down from the cross and saved himself. He could have simply stayed in heaven.
But he didn’t.
Why?
Because he loved us. All authority in heaven and on earth is given to him (Matthew 28:18), yet he used that power and authority to serve people.
He taught his disciples about using power not to lord it over others, but to serve others.
Mark 10:42 Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 43 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. 45 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.”
Power is a blessing, but it is not to be used for selfish gains, but to serve others…just like Jesus used ALL the power he had as true God to serve you!
Apply: List all the ways that God used his power to serve you…(consider salvation, creation, preservation, etc.)
Prayer: Lord, thank you for selflessly using your power to serve and save me. Amen.