I enjoyed my first-ever airline trip in business class a few years ago. The twelve-hour journey in lie-flat seats while returning from a land twelve hours opposite my home after a busy week was an unexpected delight. 

The ten hours prior to that flight were spent in the American Airlines Admirals Club. This was also a first. Both of these privileges were due to the cancellation of our flight home from Narita International Airport near Tokyo. The arriving flight was late. The crew timed out. There was no one to fly us home. We had to wait for them to get their rest before we could wing our way back past Korea, Russia, Alaska, and Canada. 

No alternate flights were available that would get us home any earlier than the one we were awaiting. This was not true for most of our traveling companions. The jumbo jet was less than half full when we boarded. The flight attendants asked if we would like to move up to Business Class. We did.

That was one sweet flight. 

American Express used to have credit card commercials with the tagline, “Membership has its privileges.” This is such a sticky phrase that churches, nonprofits, and enterprises of all kinds have borrowed it. I used to watch those commercials and envy those living the high life, the life of extravagant privilege. 

Perqs and privileges are nice. The greatest upgrade ever came in the three years those closest disciples of Jesus spent time with them morning, noon, and night. Remind yourself of all they saw and experienced. 

What became their new normal was what Job and Moses, King David and Isaiah, and countless others only dreamed. There was miracle bread abundantly multiplied. There were useless limbs restored to full functionality. There were blind eyes opened to perfect vision. There were people raised from the dead. 

There were no mundane miracles. Every switch flipped from Off to On was startling and joy-inducing. This privilege of front-row seats to the Greatest Show of Heaven and Earth belonged to a few people who were entrusted with telling what they had seen, heard, and experienced. This good news is still working its way around the world. It is still transforming lives.

You and I have the privilege of looking back and seeing what God has done for us. We have the privilege of living in the fullness of what he is doing in us and through us now. We have the privilege of looking forward to the day beyond time where grief shall be nothing but a memory and joy shall be the rule of the day.

You and I have a privileged life. No one should envy us, however. We should live and give so extravagantly generously that we naturally enrich everyone we meet. The Lectio 365 app morning devotional concludes with this prayer:

Father, help me to live this day to the full,
being true to You in every way.
Jesus, help me to give myself away to others,
being kind to everyone I meet.
Spirit, empower me to love the lost, 
proclaiming Christ in all I do and say.
Amen.

It is a privilege to live so large a life. May we live it to the full!

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I will live a life of privilege and abundance in Jesus that overflows into the lives of others.

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Our Father, the word overflow takes on deeper, broader, and greater meaning day by day. The more you pour into us, the more you empower us to pour into others. Make us who have the privilege of knowing and experiencing you the gift bearers of privilege to others. Overflow our lives with your love, mercy, and kindness. Amen.