Inspiration from Television

I’ve been watching this new show lately while I have been rehabbing from my surgery.  I have a little bit more down time now while I’m trying to get back to working order. The show explores a lot of themes and its main character is pretty amazing.  But he is shrouded in mystery.  The latest episode I just checked out showed a man who was dedicated to serve his master.  So much so that he gave his life to free him from a prison which he was in.  And in doing so the lord showed him honor before all the men that were with him.  

This got me thinking about our relationship to Christ and how we should live.  Culture and time does play a part in the devotion that the warrior had for his lord but I do not think it was without merit.  As the show unfolds we see the wisdom and humility of the lord in how he displays his character before his people and the kingdom.  The warrior’s devotion (because he did get to choose which lord he wanted to serve) was based upon the character of the lord. 

This got me thinking about Jesus because our Lord’s character is infinitely above what the lord in this tv show displayed.  We see God in the flesh through his word (and in our lives) display unmatched wisdom.  We see Jesus demonstrate incomparable compassion.  We see the Lord reveal untethered power. And we know his incomprehensible love. This all ultimately displayed in his glorification.  His death on the cross and resurrection from the dead.  How amazing that he would allow us to come into his kingdom!  Do not all these things qualify him to be our Lord and King?! And not only that he would be our Lord and King but that our devotion to him would be living and even giving our very lives for his sake! And even greater still when we do these things he honors and glorifies us! How amazing! 

That scene in the tv program was so compelling because it makes a person think (as we look through the eyes of an outsider amongst them) what would possess a man to give everything for someone? Well I know the ultimate answer.  It is found in Jesus.

who, as He already existed in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but emptied Himself by taking the form of a bond-servant and being born in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death: death on a cross. Philippians 2:6-8

…these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified. Romans 8:30