It's been an interesting, humbling time for our town. Every business had a sign up recently, it was "Vote for Phillip Phillips!!!" "Go Phillip" everywhere as our hometown hero climbed the ranks of American Idol. When he finally won on May 23rd, the town erupted with "Congratulations Phillip!" everywhere one looked. We were in a huge state of celebration. Someone from our little neck of the woods had won, and had done us all well.
Three days later, the celebrating came to a crashing halt. Another hometown hero, Lance Corporal Steven Sutton, was killed in action in Afghanistan. He was 24 years old, and died during combat operations. Lance Corporal Sutton leaves behind a wife and stepdaughter. All over town, the congrats came down, and "Remembering Steven Sutton" and "Thank you Steven Sutton for your sacrifice" replaced it. We went from laughing and partying to shocked and grieving. We shed many tears for our hero who won't be coming home again. A brave, selfless hero who gave his all to keep this country the best in the world, with all the freedoms so many have bravely fought to maintain.
God has a way of keeping us down to earth, and not letting us get a big head about things. Jesus could have come down as a king, born in a great castle, and treated like royalty from the beginning. Yet He chose to come as a servant, a slave for us. He was born under the poorest conditions, and His first visitors were shepherds, dirty from the fields. During His time of ministry, Jesus had no home, no money, and only His disciples and followers with Him. Then He was condemned, and all of those who had followed Him fled. Peter even denied ever knowing Jesus! Ultimately, He was crucified on a wooden cross, a death meant to humiliate Him.
Can you think of a time when you have been humbled by God? Recently a small event happened that brought the point home. I was washing dishes when the sink became clogged. I know how to handle this, I thought, and grabbed the plunger. A few plunges, and the sink was draining like new. Feeling pretty good about myself, I resumed washing dishes, only to have water come gushing out of the cabinet and fill up my shoe. I hadn't fixed the sink like I thought I did.
Perhaps these things happen when we take the credit for something God has done through us. Did you ace that interview today? Have you thanked God for giving your wisdom, grace, and the words to speak that impressed the interviewer so much? Did you finally sign off on that deal that's been nagging at you for months? Did you give God the glory, and thank Him for seeing you through? Your son graduated magna cum laude at that university, after getting in on a scholarship? Thank the Father as your son crosses that stage.
In Luke 17:11-19, Scripture tells us of Jesus healing the ten lepers. He told them to go see the priest, to be declared clean. On the way, their skin became clean of the sores that marked the disease. Only one humbled himself to go back to Jesus and say thank you. Jesus asked him. "Where are the other nine?" Then he told the thankful man that his faith had made him well.
I started this post with the intent of talking about humility, but it turned more into talking about thankfulness. Perhaps that is where Jesus wanted this to go. Maybe I need to be more thankful for things in my life. Have I let some things go that need praising and glorifying? I shall work on that.
In closing, I wish the best to Phillip Phillips. I wish you a long and illustrious career in music. Don't ever forget where you came from, and Who gave you such amazing talent. Lance Corporal Sutton, I so humbly thank you for your sacrifice for our country. All gave some, but you gave all. Thank you, and may you rest always in the arms of Jesus.
Chela
