My Right

I would like to dedicate this post to all the veterans and everyone in the military and law enforcement agencies who unselfishly serve and risk their lives to preserve our freedom. May God bless you all and protect you.




“Can we have more coffee, deputy?” asked one inmate as he managed to slide his small cup through the metal bars in his unit.

The deputy told one of the inmate workers who brought the early chow [breakfasts] if he could pour some coffee into that inmate’s cup, as others followed.

As chow time got done and inmates started giving their trays back, the deputy led the other inmate workers in, into that particular cell so they could start collecting and counting the plastic spoons used.

“What the?….What’s this?” exclaimed the deputy, as he saw many cups with coffee under some of the inmates’ bunk beds. They belonged to those who had asked for extra servings. They didn’t drink the coffee but instead, hoarded them…Just because…

This was their way of stealing items so that the county would end up spending more. Sometimes, upset with being incarcerated, and feeling that they didn’t deserve that jail time, this was what they would do.

The deputy was upset and started taking names of those who were responsible for the wasted cups of java.

As he left to collect the other trays from other cells with the inmate workers, one inmate in that cell uttered, “So what? It’s our right to have that cup of coffee and whatever we want to do with it, should be okay.”

Some of us are like those inmates. We often excuse our own selfishness, pride and other bad things we do by claiming our rights. Some will say:

“Well, I can have abortion if I want to. This is my body and I can do anything I want to with it.”

Or…

“I have no choice but to lie. If others can get away, why can’t I, too?”

But as believers and followers of Christ, these attitudes do not apply anymore to us. We should have that kind of attitude that enables us to lay aside our rights in order to serve others or think highly of others than ourselves.. If we truly want to follow Christ, we must reflect his character, his humility as we serve. To the point that it may mean that our efforts are not recognized at times.

So, are you clinging to your rights or are you willing to serve and think others higher than yourself?

[Philippians 2:5-11; The Message]:

5-8Think of yourselves the way Christ Jesus thought of himself. He had equal status with God but didn't think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what. Not at all. When the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human! Having become human, he stayed human. It was an incredibly humbling process. He didn't claim special privileges. Instead, he lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death—and the worst kind of death at that—a crucifixion.

9-11Because of that obedience, God lifted him high and honored him far beyond anyone or anything, ever, so that all created beings in heaven and on earth—even those long ago dead and buried—will bow in worship before this Jesus Christ, and call out in praise that he is the Master of all, to the glorious honor of God the Father.

19 comments:

  1. Your message today parrellels a teaching I heard from Joyce Meyer. She said don't keep accepting coffee fill ups in the restaurant if you are going to leave a cup full on the table and not drink all of it. Bad witness. So simple but practical! Nice of you to dedicate your post to veterans, but you are just a nice gal all around! Love you, my sister.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Wow - strong message! Good stuff! And I love the Dedication.

    ReplyDelete
  3. This post made me proud that you were the first I have seen to salute our Vets!

    That said, the coffee episode reminded me of a job interview long ago (sales). I asked the President to allow me to go on a call with any rep from the company and observe. He agreed.

    The man who would be my boss (if I joined them) bought $5 worth of gasoline at the Interstate, and we proceeded to a home.
    (A tipoff that he was cheap and did not fill 'er up).

    As guests, we were offered coffee, and how do we take it. This sales boss asked for cream, no sugar. He was oblivious of the woman, her home, her religion (Catholic icons galore), and anything but his needs.

    She set the coffee he requested down, and proceeded to buy $1,400 worth of product.

    When we were coming back on the Interstate, I asked him, why he asked for the coffee, when he never lifted the cup to his lips for even a taste. It all went to waste!

    He replied: "She asked if I wanted it, and I said "Yes". That doesn't mean I have to drink it".

    I replied that he wasted her offering, her time, and his motives at asking were dubious, if he was not going to drink it. Indeed, they were a lie for he had no intention of drinking any of it.... and did not have a sip. It went to waste, and I am sure she pondered pouring that out, after we were gone. ???

    He paused for another $5 of gasoline enroute back to the company. Such extravagance, eh?

    I walked into the President (who expected me to join up after a swell time with his ace sales guy there) and said:
    "This guy will treat employees as he treats customers. He does not treat them well, and deceives them. I'll pass on working here. Nice to meetcha. Bye".

    It is little things of behavior that tell you a lot about people, even MORE than what they say.

    Later, at a dinner with Board, and CEO at another firm, the CEO did not like the baked potato a waitress brought, and THREW the aluminum wrapped potato off the plate and on to the floor nearby. She was humiliated.
    He, the CEO, lost his multimillion dollar job, for the petulance. I always call it the "12 million dollar potato", for that is the price he paid for the behavior.

    Little things done in behavior, reveal your true character....MORE than what we say or write!

    This post took me down memory lane from the past, and reminded me to behave on little things in the future.

    You, I like! In word, and in behavior!
    Happy Veteran's Day to all!

    ReplyDelete
  4. A good reminder at this time of year to replace our prideful desires with a humble attitude of gratitude! A good word!
    Joyfully,
    Wylie

    ReplyDelete
  5. AMEN, sweet friend!
    Saluting the veterans with you.
    andrea

    ReplyDelete
  6. Rosel,

    A great post to thank our veterans and their families for the sacrifice they make everyday for all of us to keep our rights.

    Love and Hugs ~ Kat

    ReplyDelete
  7. This is the scripture that God woke me up with on Sunday morning and the one that the message was based on at church. I have been thinking about it all week.

    Please thank your husband for his suggestion concerning my battery, and thank you for asking him. I think I need to get a different wrench and use a lot of muscle.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I knew a man who considered himself to be a Christian who justified many things because they were his right...even stealing medicine from a pharmacy shelf when he was short on cash, saying that he would sneak back in on payday and put money on the counter (I doubt that happened!) We can all justify our decisions through logic but holding ourselves to the standard of Christ brings humility and gratitude for all we have and all we are.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Such a very powerful message sis, love you.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Thanks for the encouragement dear sister in Christ. Sometimes it's easy for me to make excuses for my selfishness; may I instead always be willing to lay aside my rights that I may serve those whom God has put into my life.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Thought provoking...what 'rights' do any of us have? Lifting self above all else says we are deserving of all that God gave, when in fact we are so short of it.

    ReplyDelete
  12. What a wonderful post to honor our veterans! Thanks for helping us to remember we have rights only because of their sacrifice. Great post! Once again! :)

    ReplyDelete
  13. Rosel, Thank You for being such a great friend to me and for all your Prayers.

    I pray for all those that have served and are now serving our country. Great post. Love you, Audrey

    ReplyDelete
  14. Not a rights but a privilage to live in a free country with men and women willing to fight for our freedom. Thank you RCube for this. Sarah

    ReplyDelete
  15. Oh precious Rosel. What a great message!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Rosel, I agree with the wine too;) Have a great day... Gotta love Maxine. Love, Audrey

    ReplyDelete
  17. You look great... Hope you have had a great day. Cheers to you... Wine or Coffee?

    ReplyDelete
  18. Thank you for sharing such a wonderful tribute! Blessings dear one....

    ReplyDelete
  19. Great tribute. I also agree with what Mary said about about the message Joyce Meyer gave.

    Thanks dear sister for being a blessing always. Love you.

    ReplyDelete

"Faith is taking the first step even if you don't see the whole staircase..."
~ Martin Luther King, Jr.

All posts/composed songs copyright by RCUBEs.



Encouragers

GotQuestions?org

Friends