Have My Seat, Lady

TITLE: Have My Seat, Lady
DATE: January 3, 2019
TEXT: (Philippians 2: 3 ff). 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 

The day gave every indication of being a long and trying one for Kelsey Zwick and her eleven-month-old child, Lucy.

Lucy, a twin, had been born at 29-weeks and suffered from a chronic-lung disease. In fact it was to get treatment for that lung problem that had mother and child flying from Orlando to Philadelphia. Kelsey had reached her row, apologized, in advance, for any disturbance Lucy might make, and, with her daughter’s oxygen tank, tried to settle in to her chair.

It was at that moment a flight attendant came up to Kelsey, and explained: “A man in first class wishes to give up his seat so you might be more comfortable during the flight.”

Kelsey cried as she made the move; Lucy laughed and Jason Kunselman made the flight in economy.

• Jason Kunselman was the name of the Good Samaritan who had noticed Kelsey lugging around the child’s oxygen tank, baby stuff, baby and a suitcase.
• Jason Kunselman was the guy who traded a wide, comfortable,. leather covered, flight-attendant-taking-care-of-you seat, so he could squeeze into a narrow, share-your-armrest seat and be offered a free glass of soda.
• Jason Kunselman is a guy I would like to get to know better.

I say, “I’d like to get to know him better”, because I’m pretty sure

• Jason thinks differently than most people. While most folk might probably say, “I’m in 1st class because the Lord put me here”;Jason thinks, “I’m here because the Lord is giving me an opportunity to help someone who has a special need”, and I’m also pretty sure…
• …there aren’t many people who are willing to sacrifice themselves for others.

It’s true. There may not be MANY others who are willing to sacrifice themselves, but that doesn't’ mean there is no one else who is willing to dedicate His life to being of service to  others.

(Philippians 2: 3 ff). Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

In these verses, Paul points out the most sacrificial act this universe will ever see. God’s perfect Son left His rightful throne in heaven and became one of us. As One of us He sacrifice Himself for us, carried or sins and died the death which we deserved.

And because Jesus has done this for others,

 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, even as Jesus has sacrificed Himself for me, so may I show Him appreciation for His grace by helping others. In His Name I pray. Amen.

Today’s devotion was inspired by various articles, amongst which is the one written by Jenn Gidman for Newser on December 11, 2018 . Those who wish may check out this link which was, at the time of writing, fully active: http://www.newser.com/story/268361/mom-on-strangers-kind-act-i-cried-my-way-up-the-aisle.html?utm_source=share&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=def

The music which introduces and concludes our devotions was written by Guy Baumann, one of my long-ago confirmands. He is singing with three brothers. This song comes from the album: The Baumann Brothers which may be ordered here: http://thebaumannbrothers.com/index.html