The Plumbline

“So you want first place? Then take the last place. Be the servant of all.” (Mark 9:45) First place - so many strive for the top marks, top awards, top positions. "TOP" - dominant, elite, preeminent, primary, leading, and principal. Thinking upon that one, any time we put ourselves as 'preeminent' or the 'primary leader' in our lives, we are bound to know some form of failure. Why? We aren't meant to assume that position - especially when we invite Christ into our lives. That is his position, not ours. First place - found by taking last place. That seems to be a bit of a conundrum, doesn't it? The one who wants first place is usually negotiating, repositioning, finding that edge. The racer will look for the tiniest of openings and take it. The company climber will look for the edge that makes their skills unique or in demand. The one who wants their way will use all manner of clever manipulation or negotiation to get it. The one who follows Christ is ...

The Lord is good and does what is right; he shows the proper path to those who go astray. He leads the humble in doing right, teaching them his way. The Lord leads with unfailing love and faithfulness all who keep his covenant and obey his demands. (Psalm 25:8-10) If you have ever wandered just a bit too far off path while not paying attention to any of the landmarks around you, you might have been a little 'panic-stricken' when you realized you were unlikely to find your back on your own. It is a lot easier to get lost than it is to find one's way back, isn't it? If you have ever wandered down what you believed to be the correct path, but then realized it was not ending and there was nothing really worth exploring along that way, you likely turned back toward the way you came? Why? In retracing your steps, you hoped to return to what was helpful and familiar to you. There are times in our Christian walk when we get lost down a path that we think promises something f...