"Like Kings"

"Like Kings"   

   I recently read a brief biographical sketch of a well known 20th century actor.  His identity is not important, but you'd likely recognize the name of this gentleman who starred or co-starred in nearly 100 films and plays, won an Academy award, and was well known for his graciousness, humor, and philanthropy.  

    I do not know whether he professed faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, but one anecdotal mention of the man does remind me of the Savior whom I hope he trusted.  At his funeral, the largest bouquet of flowers was accompanied by a card from the porters of Heathrow International Airport, London, England.  The inscription on the card simply said, "To the finest gentleman who ever graced the halls of Heathrow.  He made porters feel like kings."  I find it hard to think of a better eulogy, at least in terms of how human beings should relate to one another.  Moreover, the character of such humility and grace speaks of the Lord Jesus.  

  "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He hath anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He hath sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised" (Luke 4:18).

   No class consciousness existed in the Lord Jesus.  He did not view human beings on the basis of economics, heritage, upbringing, social status, or privilege.  He rather saw through to the hearts of people.  There, we are all the same in our need for His redeeming presence, or for greater experience and response to the Presence.  The Lord supped with the wealthy and the poor, the powerful and powerless, the well known and the obscure.  He communed with hearts, not bank accounts, reputations, genealogies, or power.  Moreover, He would have us do the same.

   "My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment; and ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool: are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?" (James 2:1-4).

     I won't forget the example of the man who made porters feel like kings.  Far more, I want to remember the Lord Jesus, who enriched the poor with Heavenly riches, the sad with heart filling joy, the prisoners with freedom of the spirit, the blind with spiritual vision, and the bruised and broken with freedom to overcome challenges by the power of God.  Our Lord even took upon Himself the poverty of our humanity by the sacrifice of living as a man although He was Divine.  "For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor" (II Corinthians 8:9).  No truth more causes me to desire to bow as low as possible before the humble Christ, made all the more glorious because for our sakes He did far more than make us feel like kings.  He rather died for us as the Lamb of God so that He might call us unto His throne of grace.  Let us indeed bow, both now and forevermore…

""Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: and being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.  Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a  name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in Heaven and things on earth, and things under the heart, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

(Philippians 2:9-11)

Weekly Memory Verse

    I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor anything taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before Him.

(Ecclesiastes 3:14)