We live in a world that is full of selfishness and pride. Turn on your television, and you’ll see a host of people looking to make a name for themselves. Or scroll through social media, and you will see countless people with their names plastered anywhere they can put them.
If they get the attention, then they want to brag about who they are and what they have done. You can see it as they make their rounds through society. You will read how they are the star of countless movies or the winner of a number of awards. There’s nothing wrong with recognition and accomplishments, but if we study the life of Christ, it seems that perhaps the focus of society is in the wrong place.
Throughout Jesus’ life, He was not trying to accomplish fame and notoriety in the world. While He certainly gained popularity for the things He did, He always pointed people toward His purpose. He was here for a single purpose: to die on the cross for the sins of the world.
Jesus dedicated Himself to the purpose He was here for. If we are following that example, have we dedicated our lives to God’s purpose for us? In following God’s purpose, it may lead to notoriety in the world. But for others, it may be that no one outside your community will ever know your name, which is completely fine.
It does not matter if the President or thousands of followers on social media know who you or I are. What matters is that God knows who we are and our name is written in the Book of Life. If that’s the case, we can stop worrying about the things of this world and start focusing on our purpose: living a life that leads others to Jesus and serving God with all our hearts.
And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. — Philippians 2:8
Pastor J.R.
