Guess what is common to all billiard champions. They stoop to conquer! Standing tall and trying to play simply wouldn’t do in any game of the green baize. By the same token in the spiritual realm too, the proud, overconfident ones’ are warned that “So, if you think you are standing tall, be careful that you don’t fall!” (I Cor 10.12).
There were Jesus’ disciples on the Night of the Last Supper arguing childishly amongst themselves, as to which one of them was the greatest (Luke 22:24) and what was Jesus’ response to their immature demeanor of demeaning one another? HE SIMPLY GOT UP AND WASHED THEIR FEET (John 13:5)! This, no doubt swept them, their pride and all, off their feet! With their hard-hearted pride dissolved, in the same night, some time later when Jesus disclosed that one of them would be the betrayer, each one of them barring Judas humbly asked the Master “Lord, am I the one?” (Matt 26:22-NLV). What a marked change in their nature wrought by our Lord’s exemplary posture!
The Saviour had effectively stooped to conquer their hearts given to selfish pride once and for all! Would they again resort to their puerile behaviour? No way! What about us? In case we have been wallowing in shallow murky waters of spiritual callowness, is it not high time, we stepped out?
* Prayer: Father, we commit ourselves into Thy hands with all our limitations. Make us more and more like Your Holy Son, who is our inspiration. In Jesus’ name!*
Suresh Manoharan