I will not steal from Jesus Christ the position that is rightfully His, the position of conqueror. My place is to ride in the train of His triumph, to ride behind Him as His captive. I realize now that I have often tried to mount His chariot and push Him out, taking the honor and glory for myself. I have not always been content to be His captive; I have tried to be His successor.
Being a captive is not a glorious thing in itself. It is not the limelight or the chief place. All the glory goes to the Conqueror. My function as a captive is to show the glories of the Conqueror, to display to the world the principles of His triumph in me. To do that I must constantly let Him have center stage. If I pout because I have failed, because I am not recognized, because my expectations did not materialize, I am really challenging the right of Jesus Christ to ride in the lead chariot. I am crying for the spotlight to search me out and bathe me.
I must learn that God does not make captives to glory in them, but to make captives whose very presence enhances the conquering power of His Son. Only in this way do I become “a sweet savor of Christ” to God (2 Corinthians 2:15, NSRB).
If I enhance myself, it is not a sweet savor but something nauseating to Him. If I want to join the praise of heaven, it must be on the basis of “Worthy is the Lamb” (Revelation 5:12). That is the heart of it: worthiness It is not only that Jesus is my Lord, but He is worthy to be Lord. When I see this, I will not have to wait to get to heaven to throw my crown at His feet; I will do it now in anticipation—and do it gladly because of His worthiness.
“But thanks be to God, who always leads us in His triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place” (2 Corinthians 2:14).
Daily with the King 