John 3:17–For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

The thought of being useful or needed, is something that I believe God gives us in order to use what He has blessed us with to serve others.  However what can easily “pervert” this need to be useful, is to use it for selfish purposes. To be made much of in power, instead of humbly serving others with it…

This is what the gospel sets in order when we think of our gifts and our service to God and people.  That God sent Jesus into the world, not to condemn and further push us into our depravity.  That would be taking His ultimate authority and using it to destroy us!  But what He did do with it, is humble Himself to the point of death. Helping us to see that serving has to do with lifting people up by what we can do with our authority and influence…

As a child it would be hard to see God’s authority as being used for loving humble service to bless our life, if our parents abused their authority by always condemning us further into our shame and failure.  That abuse of authority projects a future image of God that people find it hard to come back from…

Yet learning Jesus, we realize He is gentle, He is humble, and still has all power in His hand!  That it takes understanding the purpose of authority to be humble with it, and not use it to dominate and control. The essence of the gospel is to show us that The Ultimate Authority did the ultimate service, to display ultimate love!  If we use authority as a way to condemn, dominate, and control, rather than influence from a place of humble service and love, we must continually revisit John 3:17 and let it transform our heart and minds.

In His Love, Ld