By nature, we are all selfishly driven. Our needs and our desires take priority in our hearts, minds, souls, and bodies. From birth we cry out to have our needs met. A baby’s cry communicates the need for food, coddling, cleaning, or relief from other discomforts. We do not like to be uncomfortable nor in conflict with self, others, or situations. We like to have our hungers filled, our minds at peace, and our hearts at rest. Our egocentric orientation sets us up as the audience of our devotion. The ill-directed attention on ourselves places our lives on a kingly throne that we are not worthy to sit on and requires responsibilities that were are not adequately equipped to fulfill.

Jesus said to the Samaritan woman he met at the well, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water” (John 4:10). It appears that the proper response should be “Give me this water.” Jesus is quick to expose her self-focused heart. He knows that she does not truly know who he is, because if she did know, she would not be focused on herself. If she did truly know that he was the Christ, the son of God, she would be humbled by his gracious presence. She would fall down on her knees if she knew the great act of love, mercy, and grace that he extended to her, by his presence. She would bow humbly before the King of kings and Lord of lords who, “gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless” (Eph.5:25-27).

Once one knows that Jesus is the gift and the giver all attention and admiration become Christocentric - solely focused on Jesus the Christ. If Jesus is Lord, worship him. The Lordship of Christ will lead you to a life of submission, a life of sacrifice, service, and salvation. As Lord Jesus will sanctify you by the Spirit, cleanse you by his blood, and anoint you for service in his kingdom. At the name of Jesus the true disciples will worship the Lord with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength. To him be all glory, honor, and praise.     -- Bryan Johnston