We like to throw the word, "rights," around. We talk about how we deserve certain rights, are entitled to others, and shout, scream, and protest when our rights are infringed upon. We get fired-up and hyper-emotional when it comes to our rights.
But, let me ask you this: Are we entitled to rights?
Let me add a disclaimer here. I do believe in human rights. I believe that each human on this planet be treated with respect; right and fair. This isn't a post to debate whether this group or that deserve rights or not. Think of this more as a perspective shift.
'Then Jesus said to his disciples, "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.' Matthew 16:24
Jesus died on the cross for you and me. He gave his life so we could have the right to Heaven.
Think on that for a minute.
He died so we may have the right to enter Heaven's gates.
Beyond this, I am not sure we deserve any rights. Yet, He is gracious enough to afford us rights on this side of eternity.
What if the rights we experience are really blessings; a gift?
According to Matthew 16:24, we are to deny ourselves daily. This doesn't mean we treat others with disdain or disrespect or we are to be treated unfairly. But, we are to deny our selfish desires and ways and take up our cross. The Christian life is not the entitled life. Rather, its a life of selfless humility.
Rights, in my opinion, are blessings. They are a gift. The fact that we have the privilege to walk freely, to be whomever we want to be, to love who we want to love, to live where we want to live, to go to school, they are all gifts. Once we realize our rights are truly a gift from God, a reflection of His great love and mercy for His children, our perspective shifts.
May we not live entitled. May we, instead, live humbly each day relishing in the precious gift of our rights each day realizing that because He had such great love for us denying Himself and dying on the cross, we have rights.
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."
John 3:16
Love & Blessings,
Meg
But, let me ask you this: Are we entitled to rights?
Let me add a disclaimer here. I do believe in human rights. I believe that each human on this planet be treated with respect; right and fair. This isn't a post to debate whether this group or that deserve rights or not. Think of this more as a perspective shift.
'Then Jesus said to his disciples, "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.' Matthew 16:24
Jesus died on the cross for you and me. He gave his life so we could have the right to Heaven.
Think on that for a minute.
He died so we may have the right to enter Heaven's gates.
Beyond this, I am not sure we deserve any rights. Yet, He is gracious enough to afford us rights on this side of eternity.
What if the rights we experience are really blessings; a gift?
According to Matthew 16:24, we are to deny ourselves daily. This doesn't mean we treat others with disdain or disrespect or we are to be treated unfairly. But, we are to deny our selfish desires and ways and take up our cross. The Christian life is not the entitled life. Rather, its a life of selfless humility.
Rights, in my opinion, are blessings. They are a gift. The fact that we have the privilege to walk freely, to be whomever we want to be, to love who we want to love, to live where we want to live, to go to school, they are all gifts. Once we realize our rights are truly a gift from God, a reflection of His great love and mercy for His children, our perspective shifts.
May we not live entitled. May we, instead, live humbly each day relishing in the precious gift of our rights each day realizing that because He had such great love for us denying Himself and dying on the cross, we have rights.
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."
John 3:16
Love & Blessings,
Meg
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