RIghts Crazy

We have gone “rights” crazy. We believe we have the “right” to practically everything. Even animals and plants now are proclaimed to have “rights.” There is much complaining and protesting over a perceived loss of our “rights” to the government.  In this atmosphere, OC’s words seem strange, “Every time we stand on our rights, we are persecuting Jesus.”
It is easy to see rights abuse in others; but we need to look in the mirror. Are we entitled to all that we have or all that we want? Being “rights” focused is being self-focused.
In the purest sense, we have no rights. We deserve nothing. Everything we have is a gift.

This is not to say we should not fight to live in a “free” country or to preserve our heritage. These are good and proper battles. Let’s not forget the founder’s words when referring to  basic “rights” of all men, they were “endowed by their Creator.” What God has given, we should not allow man to take away.
But as OC says, “The Spirit of Jesus is conscious of one thing only – a perfect oneness with the Father, and He says, “Learn of Me, for I am meek and lowly in heart.” All I do ought to be founded on a perfect oneness with Him, not on a self-willed determination to be godly. This will mean that I can be easily put upon, easily over-reached, easily ignored; but if I submit to it for His sake, I prevent Jesus Christ being persecuted.”
We need to stand not on our rights, but on Jesus, the source of all that’s good.
Abide in Him and Him alone and
Be blessed.
Nick