"I have my rights!"  The cry of the twenty-first century American heart.  The expectant mother who'd rather not be burdened by the thought of motherhood at this time in her career.  The film maker who purposefully inflames the globe in the name of freedom of speech.  The party-goer who refuses his friend's offer to drive him home, with the sentence, "I can hold my liquor- I'll be fine!"  The teen who defies his parents.  The CEO who cheats his customers.  The husband who walks out on his family.  The athlete whose selfishness costs his team dearly.  The nation that continues to build its nuclear capability in the face of an unstable planet.  "I have my rights!"

Then came along One whose message was, "Only in willingly yielding your rights will you ever discover genuine pleasure."  Yielding rights is Holy Ground.  "Moses, take off your shoes, you're on Holy Ground!"  Joshua says, "Whose side are you on?"  The angel replies, "I've not come to take sides- I've come to take over!  And, by the way, take off your shoes, Joshua- you're on Holy Ground!"  The kinsman redeemer took off his shoe and handed it to Boaz, yielding his rights to Ruth and paving the way for the ultimate arrival of THE REDEEMER through the newly created family.  Jesus said, "Take off your shoes, guys, I have some feet to wash!" And he wrapped the towel around his waist and washed.  Peter cried, "Not my feet!"  Jesus answered, "You'd better rethink that."  Peter realized he was on Holy Ground. He took off his shoes.

How about you?  Are you clinging to your personal "rights" at all costs?  Even if it costs you your marriage?  Even if it costs you your family?  Even if it costs you your job?  Even if it costs you your soul?  Even if it costs you eternity?  How's that working for you?  "I'm all Yours, LORD!"  That's what He wants to hear.  He'll do amazing things with that kind of commitment.  Do I see you slipping out of your shoes as I write?  I hope so.  "Have this mind in you which was also in Christ Jesus who gave up His rights..."  (Read the rest of the story in Philippians 2:5-11.)  Glorious pleasure awaits the person who has taken his eyes off of his personal "rights" and focused his gaze upon the One who gave it all up for our salvation.

Paul Pearsall in his book Awe observes that among the many words in the American vocabulary that we have overused and underappreciated, the word awe would certainly rank high on the list.  "Awesome hair, dude!"  Yet we can ignore a beautiful sunrise as though it didn't exist.  THE two most awesome days in human history occurred, ironically, within fifty days of each other.  The day a Gallilian carpenter walked out of a tomb declaring himself to be the resurrected Son of God and the day the Holy Spirit was poured out upon the believers at Pentecost. Nowhere in history will you find two more awesome days, not only in their historicity, but, even more, in their practical relevence.  Because the tomb is empty, we need not fear death.  And because the Holy Spirit makes his home in our hearts, we need not fear life.  We are not alone.  We are not on our own.  What God calls us to, He empowers us for.  And, when death finally comes, it, too, is victory.  Not afraid to die.  Not afraid to live.  Awesome!!!