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It’s about God, not about me

John 3:20-21 NLT
All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed. But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants.

PERSONAL COMMENTARY
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So true. When I enjoyed doing evil, I hated truth. In fact, I saw truth as my enemy. It was “rules trying to keep me away from my fun”.

For a time, I even thought that salvation was just freedom from the burdens of guilt and shame. In fact, it was the hope for salvation from that guilt and shame that made me aware of my need for salvation when I was lost.

So this conviction, this knowledge of my sins, this guilt and shame that I wanted to escape – this awareness of my own condition of being lost in need of a savior – it led me to the hope of my salvation, it led me to Jesus Christ.

And in this renewed hope of salvation, Christ overcomes our guilt and shame. But it doesn’t stop there.

As we grow, it is no longer about escaping shame and guilt – it is about seeking the Kingdom of God in our lives. It is about repenting from our sins and serving God in our lives. It starts to shift from a focus on our past to faith in the promises for the future. But even then, we might realize that our thoughts are still about what we are faithfully expecting to receive as fulfillment of His promises. Even our thoughts towards others are about their salvation or their being lost. We are still self and people centered in our thinking.

Then, at some point – a light comes on.

And we realize that this is not about me. The salvation work is already done in me. In fact, if they are His elect and chosen and called, they will hear this voice of the Word of God, and they will recognize it and be drawn to it – a seed will be watered when we share this Word of God, and the soil will be cultivated through His loving works that are done through us, the body of Christ. And my sharing His Word and seeing Him work through me, this is my praise that I lift to God. It is about shining brightly with a life that is a praise and honor to God. Not so that others see it, so much as that I lift it up to honor God.

And when this is my attitude and my purpose, to live a life of praise to God – it becomes less about me and more about God.

It becomes less about the evil that finds ways to work through others, and it becomes more about the Christ that shines through each of us. It becomes a life free from lawlessness, free from the trappings of legalism, free to live a life with Christ as a friend who is closer than a brother – because He lives in us, and through us, and our lives are His – no longer our own.

This is my goal each day. That my life praises God in what I say, what I do, and what I think. Yes, I have set the bar high, and no I am not perfected in that goal – but nonetheless, it is my goal each day.

And one day, His work will be completed, and I will see my goal face to face. I will stand in the presence of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and I might be able to maintain this attitude and perspective,
“Lord, I fell short, but you overcame. Please, Lord, remember me. I cannot claim to have always been humble. I cannot claim to have always been faithful. I cannot claim to have lived a life free from sin or filled with works of my own. I cannot claim to have always been merciful. I can only rely on your mercy.
Please, Lord, have mercy on me. I know that without your grace, I deserve the pit. You have every right to send me there in good conscience, and I understand even if that is your judgement, because you know and weigh our hearts.
My hope is that you have softened my heart sufficiently in the walks that we have had together up to this point. But I understand that I am so far from your example of perfect glory.
If our walks together and our talks together up to now are the closest that I can come to heaven, those times are more than I deserve.
I love you. Please remember me. I can only rely on your mercy. ”

And I have faith that He knows my name. Even if no one else remembers me or notices me in this life, as long as he remembers my name. That is what matters to me.

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Seek Wisdom

JAS 1:5-6 ESV
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.

PERSONAL COMMENTARY
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…

When we seek God and we pray for wisdom, God will give it to us. It is God’s will for us to grow wise in His ways. If we are His children, and we are praying in His will, He won’t give us a snake when we pray for a fish. So it is clear that we should all pray for wisdom and guidance.

And this wisdom and guidance doesn’t just come from the “snap of God’s fingers” – Yes, it can come that way, but I’ve found that is usually not His way. No, He guides us and teaches us. He taught me my own foolishness in those times that I struck out on my own to gain something, only to see it destroyed before my eyes when the storms or the fire of trials came along. And in teaching me about my own foolishness, I learn His wisdom.

Yes, this is the way that a strong willed, foolish man had to grow in the truth of God. If you are not strong willed, you might read it, follow it, and not struggle in your life. But I am strong willed, and He teaches me by breaking my will.

It is when my eyes are opened to the truth of my life – when I see that those things that I chased did not last, the flavor wore out, I found them to be more of a trap and a source of destruction and damage in my life than a pleasure over time. It is then that I begin to see the truth – that His ways are best.

And I am thankful to have walked this walk of being proven foolish, of having my will broken – because now I am just as strong willed as ever, but my will is coming in alignment with His will. And there is blessing and power and strength in walking in the will of God. I don’t say that in pride, I say it in humble reverence and awe – that God would use even me, the rebellious and strong willed prodigal son. Yes, He forgives even me.

So let’s pray for His wisdom, let’s be bold enough to step out in faith, and let’s know that even when we make mistakes, they are life lessons in wisdom. But I encourage you – the reading, trusting, and following is the easier path – I have the stripes and the battle scars to prove it.

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Am I resisting?

1 Peter 5:8-9 ESV
Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.

PERSONAL COMMENTARY
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How much resistance am I showing today?

Am I examining those things in my life that need to change that aren’t glorifying God?

When I’m aware of those things that need to change (and when I’ve prayed for change in that area) –

Am I walking through that trial by resisting the temptation AND relying on my faith in Christ to carry me through – or am I expecting God to be a personal genie and make everything easy with no trials or challenges?

Resisting requires effort and faith on our part. This is the testing and proving of our faith. And it is through this testing and proving that we truly learn that God’s promises are true and He is faithful.

So daily, I look at myself and ask – am I trying to sail through on this promise of heaven, using Jesus as a get out of hell free card for myself, buy missing out on my purpose in this Kingdom work that is in front of me today?

How many opportunities will I miss to make corrections in my own life that might have an impact either positively or negatively on others based on my decisions, actions, and words today?

Every decision that I make carries consequences – it can either bring more of Christ’s light into this world today, or it can allow more darkness. My attitude, which is visible in my actions and words will have an impact on others today.

Every action that I take – even whether or not I hold the door for someone at a restaurant today will either be an opportunity for more love or a lost opportunity.

Every word that I speak can either draw someone closer, or push them further away. Words have power.

Truth spoken from a hard, hardened and judgemental stance is still truth, but it may push people away from light and truth if there is no VISIBLE love in the eyes of the person receiving.

Truth spoken as loving, kind, and gentle is easier to be received by those who don’t yet know whether or not they can trust you. If you don’t have someone’s trust, hitting them over the head with a sword isn’t the best way to show them that they are not your enemy.

Yes, truth sometimes must be spoken boldly and directly as a warning, but without any foundation for trust – will we look like an enemy or a friend?

Let’s remember, everyone struggles just as we do. Other men and women of flesh and blood need mercy and forgiveness and healing just like we do. Let’s not forget the sinners that we are if it was not for this free gift of grace and salvation. Is there anyone foolish enough to think they are worthy by their own works?

So, I hope that I can be prepared for those opportunities today – those opportunities to see what in me can be a better example of the Christ that I have in me. That I will not overlook the opportunities to show love and share love in my thoughts, attitude, actions, and words today.

And that somewhere, beneath all of these imperfections and shortcomings and failings of my walk in the flesh – a ray of light of Christ’s love might break through and shine or to touch another life today. Not so that anyone might see me doing good, but so they might experience for themselves this Christ that is mine.

I love you, friend.

Let’s be the Christ in us.

Let’s follow this Holy Spirit guidance.

Let’s resist the evil.

And let’s see the truth of Christ’s love, and of this free gift of grace touch lives today and until He returns.