Check Your Mirror!

There is a growing issue in our modern world, when it comes to overly opinionated or offended responses. Quite frankly, it has reached an epidemic proportion when one has to either be in offense or defense mode no matter what the subject of discussion is. But this is not new. In Jesus time, it was no different. The Chief Priests and Pharisees were stuck in rigidity over the law that they missed entirely God’s intentions. They were the good guys; they knew the laws since they were educated. Jesus did not fit in any of their category, so they approached him trying to discredit him. The Gospel message today is about correcting some of our misconceptions, where we may think we are absolutely too correct to be corrected. And, wait a minute! That’s when we are realize that we were actually trekking in the wrong direction. The Chief Priests and Pharisees got that same shock after interacting with Jesus. Paul knew our human tendency to be on our high horse because we’re right. So, he encouraged us believers to rather be humble like Christ who though divine became human, and to regard others as better than ourselves. My assertion today is, that believers should constantly check their mirrors, so to adjust when necessary to fit the profile of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. So, as I have come to learn, the English expression of being on one’s high horse means to be haughty either in status or knowledge and so on. The issue with this high posture is that one gains a spectacular view but misses a huge blind spot of everything below/behind the horse. The Chiefs Priests had strong opinions but that’s not a bad thing. It’s okay to hold well one’s opinion, in fact, the Gospel encourages us to share the Good News of Salvation to all, it’s our mandate in Matt 28:19. If people won’t listen to us, move on! It gets interesting: The Chiefs Priests were on their high horses when dealing with children of Israel because they were in their Offense/defense mode. Hardly a parental posture! Their passion/zeal did not fit God’s purposes. Somewhere, their intentions were corrupted and they were oblivious to it. Unfortunately, we are also susceptible to this, that’s why it’s important to hold well one’s mirror (which is the word of God) and ask ourselves: Are the things I am passionate about, matching God’s purposes? That day, the Chief Priests were on their high horses. Of course, as you know; Jesus meets everyone where they are at, to welcome them to where He is at. Jesus met them at their high posture. They asked him: “By what authority are you doing these things?” It was a dangerous question because, whatever way Jesus would have answered, carried grave consequences. So, Jesus chose not to respond directly, but gave them a parable to make them think: “Are we the second son who said he would go but didn’t go?” BINGO! They had built their reputation as Israel’s leaders and sat with a posture that didn’t allow them to care for those God had sent them to. Their job was to make a blessed Israel become a blessing to other nations. They didn’t. We also face this danger of being on our high horse, saying: Of course, I am right! I have always been correct, and at the same time, failing to see/recognize God’s intentions to save a runaway world his way, because our own intentions can easily become corrupt, especially considering human emotions in the mix. God knows everything! Every corner of our hearts! We need a mirror to check our posture, and the sincerity of our intentions. Where are we at? Paul says our posture should be a humble one: “Be of the same mind as Christ! Look not on your own interest but to the interest of others. Do nothing through strife or vain glory. Do nothing out of selfish ambition.” The Psalmist says: God teaches sinners in his way; btw that’s us, sinners. He guides the humble/ the lowly in doing right. So, mortal, (and that’s how God calls us): your homework is: Be humble, check your mirror and learn from your creator! Amen.