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lift Jesus high

John 12:32 NASB
"And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself."

It is important to do some examining from time to time!  It is vitally important that we get honest with God and come to know the love God has for us and how we share it with others.  Far too often what we do, as Christians, is to make us look good or to draw attention to ourselves.  But when we lift up ourselves, we lift the wrong thing.

Lifting us rather than lifting Jesus, doesn't give people hope and a Savior.  Lifting ourselves and our plans rather than lifting Jesus, doesn't give people purpose and meaning.

What makes us lift ourselves rather than lifting up Jesus?

Serving at Martinsville Speedway is one of my favorite outreaches and projects.  We get to speak to and encourage thousands of race fans.  There are lots of conversations about Jesus.  But today I stop to pray and seek God about who I am lifting up today.  Often I stop and make sure my messages or even these devotions lift up Jesus and not me.  

I love worship and I get reminded from time to time about song that bring me to a place where I can focus on Jesus and turn out the worship.  Let me share with you one such song from Michael W. Smith titled "Be Lifted High":

Sin and its ways grow old, 
All of my heart turns to stone, 
And I'm left with no strength to arise, 
How You need to be lifted high

Sin and its ways lead to pain, 
Left here with hurt and with shame, 
So no longer will I leave your side, 
Jesus, you be lifted high

You be lifted high, You be lifted high, 
You be lifted high in my life, Oh God, 
And I fall to my knees, 
So it's you that they see, 
Not I, Jesus, you be lifted high

And even now that I'm inside your hands, 
Help me not to grow prideful again, 
Don't let me forsake sacrifice, 
Jesus you be lifted high

And if I'm blessed with the riches of kings, 
How could I ever think that it was me, 
For you brought me from darkness to light, 
Jesus, you be lifted high

... And I fall to my knees, 
So it's you that they see, 
Not I, Jesus, you'll be lifted high

Did you really get what that song said?  "I fall to my knees, so it's you that they see.  Not I, Jesus, you'll be lifted high."   I cannot fully tell you what that song does to me.  We have got to be honest about our lives.  We allow things to get in our way of worshipping and of focusing on Jesus.  Get honest.  That hurts.   It hurts the cause of Christ when I focus on anything other than Jesus.  It hurts me that I allow that to happen far too often.

I close by begging you to join me in lifting Jesus high.  Spend time with God asking Him to move us out of the way so He can be lifted high.  We may need to literally fall on our knees so He can be lifted.  Do you agree?  Can we say what Jesus said?  I pray we can.  Here is that verse:

John 8:54 NLT
Jesus answered, "If I want glory for myself, it doesn't count. But it is my Father who will glorify me. You say, 'He is our God,' '
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