Unworthy

Unworthy. This word usually denotes something negative. If you've ever been rejected by someone you have most likely had feelings of worthlessness that may have been followed closely behind by anger, frustration, and even defeat. Or maybe you've felt you were unworthy of something because you look at your lack and know you will never be able to measure up to what you expect of yourself or think others expect of you. Or there is a past mistake that haunts you around every turn of life and you wonder if it will ever stop defining and defeating you. It is so much a part of you it's hard to let it go.

But there's a flip side to this word. A side that, when brought to light, can be humbling yes, but also a rare form of worship that when expressed is a sweet fragrance to our Heavenly Father! How can this be, you may ask. How does this work?

I look at the life of John the Baptist and see a man who could have been very proud and self-righteous, but chose not to be. His character oozed out humility, and it's impossible to read about him without seeing his selflessness.

John lived in an exciting time in history! This was a time when the Jews were finally seeing the promised Messiah coming to redeem the sins of the world. Just imagine being in their shoes! All their lives they were taught that some day the Redeemer would come and deliver them, and the truth of that prophecy was unfolding right before their eyes in the form of the carpenter's son Jesus! Yes, many rejected and despised Him. Many didn't believe Him, but that doesn't change the fact that Jesus was the Messiah come to take away the sins of the world!

John believed Jesus was the Messiah, and he taught many people about Him and baptized believers in His name. The self-righteous religious leaders of the day were watching John and sent priests to find out who he was. Since John the Baptist had a large following, the Pharisees wanted to know if he was a prophet, the Messiah himself, or a false teacher. They even thought he might be Elijah (the man whom God took to heaven in a chariot of fire), thinking he would come and fulfill prophecy. John denied their assumptions, and his reply to their inquiry seems confusing at first.

His answer did nothing to draw attention to himself. He instead answered in a way that pointed to Christ. John realized that life wasn't about him and his accomplishments, but was about glorifying God. Instead of making himself out to be someone of importance, he did the unlikely thing and pointed to Someone else.

His answer was, "I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, make straight the way of the Lord." (John 1:23)

His response shows us his heart and character. His words pointed to Christ just as his lifestyle had been pointing to him. The way he lived matched what he preached. Can this be said of us? Does the way we live match with what we say? Or are our words contrary to our lifestyle?

In verse 27, John points out his own unworthiness as he says, "He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe latchet I am not worthy to unloose."

Ok, so helping children with their shoes is one thing, but untying an adult's sneakers seems a little degrading to me. I don't want to be touching other peoples dirty shoes! Now let's take this a level further and let me remind you what the primary mode of transportation in that day was - walking. No paved streets, and no enclosed shoes. A.k.a. these were dirty sandals, people! In fact, back then the menial task of unfastening sandals was done by a slave. The lowest person on the totem pole.

But look at what John is implying when he says he is unworthy to help Christ with His sandals. He is saying that he doesn't even deserve to do a low degrading job for Christ. He identifies himself as lower than the lowest servant of that time. In essence, he was saying that someone who is better than him should be taking care of Jesus. John felt himself unworthy to do this humbling task.

Wow! How often do we look down from the high and lofty view we have of ourselves and feel we are too worthy to do small tasks for Christ?

I am too worthy to help out with the children's Sunday school class.
I am too worthy to give up my usual seat in church for the visitor.
I am too worthy to be asked to serve tables when I want to be served.

How callous our hearts get! This list of "too worthy" can go on and on until we stop it. These attitudes will overtake our hearts as we allow pride to reign, and they build and build until we are too worthy to serve God as we should.

What areas of "too worthy" are you allowing to feel at home in your heart?

You see, John's heart was that of an unworthy servant, and that unworthy servant was able to be used of and for God in miraculous ways! Living with a heart that recognizes our own unworthiness will put things in proper perspective as we put God and others first. Let's be careful to remember that we are not worthless, because the message throughout the Bible shows how precious we are in God's eyes, but that we are to take on a humble attitude of service to others as Christ did.

How can living a life with the attitude of unworthiness be a form of worship? It is worship because of the humility that comes with the attitude of unworthy. As John the Baptist worshiped Christ out of his humble mindset, we too can worship our Lord by putting on the same mindset.

As we live in humility, we can then begin to be used of God and have a deeper, more meaningful relationship with Him.

How are you viewing unworthiness in your life? Is it something you are embracing, or is it something you are shunning? Your reactions and responses will tell where your heart is concerning this.

Will you choose unworthiness today?

~Tiffany~

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