MEB4U - Me Before You – UB4ME

“Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Him, saying, ‘Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask.’ And He said to them, ‘What do you want Me to do for you?’ They said to Him, ‘Grant us that we may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on Your left, in Your glory.’ And when the ten heard it, they began to be greatly displeased with James and John. But Jesus called them to Himself and said to them, ‘You know that those who are considered rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.’” — Mark 10:35-37,41-45

A preacher told a story about a car that passed him with the vanity plate “MEB4U”. I am certain you have experienced that as well. A car riding your bumper, then passing you only to turn off of the road. Or maybe a car going under the speed limit, so you attempt to pass them only to have them speed up as if they were in a race and not merely going to the grocery store. It is part of our old nature to find significance wherever it might be found – in whatever trivial thing it might be found. We just want our day in the sun – or even a moment to somehow validate our worth as a human being – to affirm our significance in this world.  Along with Peter, James and John were part of the inner circle. Like the teacher’s pet. You know – the one who is held in higher regard than then rest of the “pack”. There is always a resentment or perhaps jealousy directed at them from those who are not so highly favored.

It is the same in the Body of Christ.  That is because we Christians have our roots in the world. When we are saved by faith – we bring along all of our insecurities – biases – and habits with us.  Very often we view our new life through the lens of our old one.  In God’s economy there is no favoritism. We are all loved the same – although we are not all used by God in the same way. Where what you do might place you higher in the culture’s pecking order, it has nothing to do with where you stand before God and with other Christians.  The ground at the foot of the cross is level.  If you want to find significance in the kingdom of God then you must become insignificant.   

“Then He came to Capernaum. And when He was in the house He asked them, ‘What was it you disputed among yourselves on the road?’ But they kept silent, for on the road they had disputed among themselves who would be the greatest. And He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, ‘If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.’” – Mark 9:33-37

Doesn't do much to boost your pride, does it? It is contrary to everything that the culture teaches – that our carnal hearts cry out for. There is no room for prejudice. For jealousy.

“So when He [Jesus] had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, ‘Do you know what I have done to you? You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.’” – John 13:12-14

There are some churches that practice foot washing as a sign of humility. Jesus washing the Disciples’ feet was a “visual” allegory or metaphor (I always get them confused) to express the idea of what it means to be great in God’s eyes.  You must be a servant to be great. You must be last to be first. If you embraced that in the way you live your life how would that change the way you treat people – not your friends, although it might be your friends – but those you have decided are somehow less than you. Those who have a lower station in our culture or your piece of the culture? So …. the preacher suggested that rather than read MEB4U as “me before you” that perhaps we should understand it to mean “me be for you”

“Then one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, and saying, ‘Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?’ Jesus said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’” – Matthew 22:35-39

UB4ME

Believe it – walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone