what a morning

Okay, it really wasn't too crazy of a morning... I was just extremely hesitant to turn off my alarm and greet the day with a smile. Grumbling and grouching for a good hour this morning, I finally got my bearings straight when I ingested a vanilla latte and chocolate chip scone (a treat especially for a morning like today's). Once I opened the Word, it hit me: my struggle with self-pity is so much deeper than I thought.

Do I really believe that I am entitled to a certain amount of sleep each night? Do I really think that each day I must achieve a certain level of physical comfort in order to live life abundantly? Based on my reaction this morning, I think I do.

On days especially like today, I need to hear the Gospel preached to me again and again.

"...Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross." (Philippians 2:5-7)

What does it say about me that I believe I am entitled to a certain standard of living, when Christ, who is God, gave up His own rights as God to come to earth and die for sinners like me? How dishonoring to Him it must be to look down and see people like me gripe about such silliness as only 6 hours of sleep, considering His tremendous sacrifice for us. He willingly obeyed God the Father to become a mere human and grant believers in Him eternal life, ultimately to redeem the earth through His people. How fresh this gift of salvation is, as we think of how we do not deserve it! How glorious the weight of Christ's burden at the cross, that He willfully surrendered His privileges as God for the sake of His children!

Thank you, Christ, for the depths of your sacrifice!