Me First!

By Donna Wittlif

"Be ye therefore imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, even as Christ also love you, and gave himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God" (Ephesians 5:1, 2 ASV).
      "Me, me, me!" my one-year-old grandson protested as he tried to push his three-year-old sister off my lap. He is still a baby, and already two of his four words are "me" and "mine."
      We learn very early to stand up for and protect what is ours and what we want. People seem to have a built-in selfish streak. They put themselves before all others. They want to be the best, to have the best, and to be first in line to have anything good. They believe they deserve to have the best.
       The disciples of Jesus were no exception. James and John asked Jesus, "Grant unto us that we may sit, one on thy right hand, and one on thy left hand, in thy glory" (Mark 10:37). Over and over Jesus tried to show them that they should love their neighbor as they loved themselves. The Master and Teacher even washed their feet.
      Jesus is God. He gave up His glory in heaven to come to this poor world and save us. When we think of who Jesus is and how He left it all to die for our sins, we cannot help but be humbled. He didn't just wash our feet, but His blood washes and cleanses our souls. Because of Jesus, we have the best, but not because we deserve it.
      Christians must give up their pride and arrogance and wanting to elevate themselves. May we imitate our Lord and walk in love, putting others before ourselves and serving them. Let us become His humble ambassadors.

- Donna Wittlif, the founder and first editor of BulletinGold, lives in Denver, CO. Donna is also a writer of fiction. Her novels, World Eternal: Promises and World Eternal: Proselytes, and World Eternal: Perils, and her newest book, Finding Her Heart,  are available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other book outlets. For more information visit her website. http://www.donnarwittlif.com/