Standing For Whose Rights?

"I have been crucified with Christ.  It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.  And the life I now live in the flash I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." Galatians 2:20 ESV

Ever found yourself shouting in a moment of defensive passion, "I'm standing for my rights.  I want justice!"?  Click on an online news site or open the pages of your local newspaper and chances are it won't take you long to find someone doing just that.  It's kind of in us as westerners (and especially Americans) to stand up for ourselves and assert our rights as citizens, isn't it?  

That's not necessarily a bad thing.  Even the Apostle Paul asserted his rights as a Roman citizen when he was being mistreated in Acts 16.  But when it came to his rights as a christian, a believer, a servant of Jesus Christ, he willingly surrendered any real or perceived rights.  He reminds the believers in Corinthians that they are not their own:

"Don't you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God?  You do not belong to yourself for God bought you with a huge price.  So you must honor God with your body."  1 Corinthians 6:20 NLT

I often wonder if our independent spirit, stand up for yourself attitude, many times actually puts us at odds with our Redeemer.  How often do I stand up for me and totally forget to stand up for Him?  Is pushing my agenda overriding the passion and compassion that should cause me to want to surrender to His agenda?

I am struck by the stark visual that is reflected in Exodus 21:6 in the description of a servant willingly surrendering to his master for life.  Traditionally in this period, a slave was given his freedom after 7 years.  However, if the slave declares his love for his master (and his family) and does not want to go free, then his master must present him before God and the following had to take place:

"Then his master must take him to the door or doorpost and publicly pierce his ear with an awl.  After that, the slave will serve his master for life." NLT

What a humbling expression of a servant's love for his master.  No rights exerted or demanded there.  All authority surrendered.  No turning back.

Do The Math

"Do not be deceived.  God is not mocked: for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap."
                                                                                                                             Galatians 6:7

Some things need little explanation.  Some spiritual truths need none.  They just say it.  There.  The words from Galatians 6:7 fit into that category.  No explanation necessary.

In my limited attempts at planting a vegetable garden I found an amazing truth that never changed--what I planted was ALWAYS what came up.  Imagine that!  I never had to wonder.   When I planted peas, I got peas.  When I planted pumpkins, pumpkins I got.  When I planted tomatoes--you guessed it!  I got tomatoes.  Never failed.  What went into the ground is what came back up in a few weeks 100% of the time.

We are accustomed to hearing this truth paired with financial blessings and there is certainly plenty of evidence and encouragement in the Word of God to firm that up.  But there is much more to receive from this chapter and the preceding one in Galatians.

Paul is reminding the Galatian church (and the contemporary church as well) that if we sow to our flesh (our sinful nature, selfish desires, judgmental attitude, unforgiveness, bitterness, etc...) then that is exactly what we will reap.  Why is it so hard for us to show grace to others when grace is what we need for ourselves?  Can we not see it?  Why is patience with our neighbor such a difficult thing to have when we need and receive patience in daily quantities from the Lord?  Why must we hold onto the offenses from the past when Jesus daily marks paid on our sin ledger?

Maybe self is the real issue here.  Whenever I spend way too much time thinking about me I always end up in a place that doesn't work.  I don't belong there because I have grieved the Holy Spirit that lives in me.  He thrives in the areas that I surrender completely to Him.  Just because I don't "feel" like surrendering doesn't mean I shouldn't.  My feelings so often lie.

Lord, please continue to remind me that when I sow to the Spirit I will receive the fruit that the Spirit offers...."love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control".  

It works every time.