He Had No Rights

This fits in with recent discussions and study on humility in Philippians.

He Had No Rights
He had no rights:

     No   right to a soft bed, and a well-laid table;
     No   right to a home of His own, a place where His
              own pleasure might be sought;
     No   right to choose pleasant, congenial
              companions, those who could understand Him
              and sympathize with Him;
     No  right to shrink away from filth and sin, to
              pull His garments closer around Him and turn
              aside to walk in cleaner paths;
     No   right to be understood and appreciated; no,
              not by those upon whom He had poured out a
              double portion of His love;
     No   right even never to be forsaken by His Father,
              the One who meant more than all to Him.

His only right was silently to endure shame,
     spitting, blows; to take His place as a sinner at
     the dock; to bear my sins in anguish on the
     cross.

He had no rights. And I?

       A   right to the "comforts" of life? No, but a
              right to the love of God for my pillow.
       A   right to physical safety? No, but a right to
              the security of being in His will.
       A   right to love and sympathy from those around
              me? No, but a right to the friendship of the
              One who understands me better than I do myself.
       A   right to be a leader among men? No, but the
              right to be led by the one to whom I have given
              my all, led as is a little child, with its hand
              in the hand of its father.
       A   right to a home, and dear ones? No, not
              necessarily; but a right to dwell in the heart
              of God.
       A   right to myself? No, but, oh, I have a right
              to Christ.

All that He takes I will give;
All that He gives will I take;
He, my only right!
He, the one right before which all other rights
     fade into nothingness,
I have full right to Him;
Oh, may He have full right to me!

Mabel Williamson, miss. to China