In my sinfulness, it is so easy to put me at the centre of the universe and put everyone else, including Jesus, there to serve me.
Nearly every day we are told in one way or another that I am the most important person in the world. The message comes in so many different ways: advertising, music, movies, Facebook, TV, education, etc. And this is a message that my sinful heart is ever so eager and ready to listen to.
We are so convinced by this message that we can even think that Jesus exists to do whatever we tell him. We think that Jesus is our “cosmic butler”, ready and waiting to serve us when we feel like we need something. And when Jesus doesn’t deliver what we want, we conclude that Jesus doesn’t care or that Jesus doesn’t exist or that Jesus isn't good.
How wrong we are! And how much trouble we make for ourselves when we put ourself in the place of Jesus and Jesus in our place. For the reality is that we are here for Jesus and not the other way around.
For in him (Jesus) all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him (Colossians 1:16)
See that last bit? All things were created through him and for him. This obviously includes you and me.
Jesus is God (check out the rest of Colossians 1 if you need to be convinced) and deserves to be honoured, worshiped, adored, revered, served and obeyed as God. In fact, life will only make sense if Jesus is treated this way. Jesus is the reason we should get out of bed in the morning, not the other way around. Jesus should be the motivation behind every decision you make, whether it be what to wear, what to say, how to act, whom to date, and how to spend your money and your time.
The world, your world, should revolve around Jesus.
And this is true, not only because Jesus created us, but also because he actually did come and serve us. Like a butler, he left his “bed” in heaven and came to earth to give us what we really needed: a sacrifice for sin that took away God’s anger at our rebellion – which includes our self-centeredness. And so we serve Jesus knowing that he both created us and served us first.
So what motivates you? What gets you out of bed in the morning? Jesus or something else?