Orange Moon Saturday, July 6, 2024 "Like Kings"

The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe…

(a repeat from 2016)

"Like Kings" 

      

    I recently read a brief biographical sketch of a well known 20th century actor.  You would 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 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 read, "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).

   "And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped Him, saying, Lord, if Thou wilt, Thou canst make me clean.  And Jesus put forth His hand, and touched him" (Matthew 8:2-3).

   No class consciousness existed in the Lord Jesus.  He did not view human beings on the basis of condition, economics, heritage, upbringing, social status, or privilege.  He rather saw through to the hearts of all.  Therein, we all know the same need for His touch, His presence, and His redeeming grace.  The Lord supped with the wealthy and the poor, the powerful and powerless, the well known and the obscure.  He communed with hearts, not with bank accounts, reputations, genealogies, or power.  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 hope not to forget the example of the man who made porters feel like kings.  Even more, I want to remember the Lord Jesus, who enriched the poor with Heavenly bounty, 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 their challenges by the power of God.  Our Lord even took upon Himself the poverty of our humanity although He is 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 should more cause us to bow as low as possible before the humble Christ, made all the more glorious because He does far more than make us feel like kings.  He rather died for us as the Lamb of God and "hath made us kings and priests unto God and His Father" (Revelation 1:6).  He will lead us from the throne in His royal servitude and impartial regard for people, and through Him we will make porters feel like kings by directing them to the King.

"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

   And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

(I Timothy 3:16)

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