Celebrity Status

Revelation 5:12 In a loud voice they were saying: “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!”

In our culture there are certain things that appear to be worth striving to gain. Power and wealth are right at the top of the list. Those who wield the power also seem to have the wealth, or at least access to the wealth of others. Almost no one leaves Congress poorer than when they arrived, and government employees don’t make that much money.

We could add beauty and notoriety to the power and wealth and pretty much encapsulate what it means to be an “influencer” in today’s world. And those who scramble up that hill must trample many others along the way. In today’s world there is seemingly no way to rise without putting others down.

And this is nothing really new. Throughout all of recorded history humans have risen to the top by putting others down. Rulers have risen, warlords seized power, and politicians have crafted laws to benefit them in their quests to rise.

But there is an exception to that rule: Jesus. He did exactly the opposite during his earthly journey. He consistently served the needs of others rather than himself. His focus was always on serving the will of God.

Our text points out the pinnacle of that service with the word “slain.” Jesus willingly faced death and walked through it for us. Without the “slain” there would be none of the other things. No power or wealth or wisdom or strength or honor or glory or power. None.

Often when we read verses like this we are so excited about the positive side of the equation that we forget the “slain.” There is a cost to true high position. That cost must travel through “slain.”

Death to our selfish wants and desires. That is “slain” for us. Almost none of us will be called upon to be slain for others. And none of us can bear the weight of what Jesus did, carrying the weight of the whole world’s sin, but we certainly can work at putting to death our selfish desires.

What can you say “No” to today in your quest to consider others of more value than yourself? In what way are you saying “Yes” to God’s will when you say “No” to your selfish needs and desires.