No more games, for God’s sake

Who are you, really?  That can be a frightening question. As we grow into adulthood, we become adept at playing the game of presenting a carefully prepared image of the person we wish we were. And, too often, there is a lot of distance from reality.  Not long ago, I listened to a conversation in which a man talked about his ‘accomplishments.’  Wow, he was impressive, except I knew better. What he described bore little resemblance to the truth.   

Many years ago, a person worked in our organization.  His resume claimed some degrees that seemed incongruous with his experience. When I questioned him, asking him to provide a transcript for our records, he left that day and never returned!  I hope you are not claiming a phony degree or lying about your accomplishments. But, are you real, living authentically?  Or, do you work at presenting a fake joy, a pretend love, or a deeper spirituality than actually exists in your life?

“Ah, come on, Jerry, everybody does it.”   Not ‘everybody’ but you are right, many do.  The question remains, "Should it be done?"  Knowing how much image-making goes on, I discount much of what I read and hear, thinking - "So, what really happened?   What is the kernel of fact under the layers of padding?

Hyperbole is not the problem.   When a person says, "I've told you a thousand times!" we know what they mean, that their words are not to be taken literally.   The problem is word inflation, which is just plain old dishonesty.    

• Politicians regularly do it. They gush over how happy they are to be in the city, with the fine mayor, reading off a cue card handed them by an aide as they walked to the microphone! The audience politely applauds while thinking, "How many times have you said that this week?"   
  
• Job titles are handed out that mean little in reality but that give the appearance of importance.   Have you ever noticed how many assistant vice presidents there are in banks?  Advertisers routinely mislead consumers, though carefully within guidelines that avoid legal repercussion.   
•  I remember a trip to McD's with my grandson.  His Happy Meal™ included a little toy. After a moment, he threw the toy down on the table in disgust.  "What's the matter?" I asked.   "It doesn't work like on TV!"  he replied. Few things do, my boy!

Alicia Chole wrote a great little devotional book for Lent.  In it she asks us to reflect on the meaning of a true fast.  Yesterday’s reading was a powerful call to reality! "Today, fast all appearances. Fast facades. Be fiercely attentive to when, where, and with whom you are tempted to inflate or deflate, exaggerate, or belittle your real self via speech or silence. Discuss your observations with Jesus. Ask Him to help you understand why you are investing energy in an illusion. Our reality does not frustrate Jesus. Our hypocrisy does." 40 Days of Decrease [Lent]

Besides being dishonest, which dishonors God, our willingness to play the game of ‘pretend’ has a terrible downside. In time we lose sight of who we actually are, starting to believe our own press releases. We slip deeper into a place where we lose ourselves and in that loss we also lose touch with God, the Holy Spirit, who wants to know us, lead us, and heal us. Jesus teaches - "Just say ‘yes’ and ‘no.’ When you manipulate words to get your own way, you go wrong." (Matthew 5:37, The Message)   He made this statement while talking about vows and promises.    Our word, He taught, is to be so trustworthy there is no need for us to buttress our truthfulness by saying things like, "I swear to God!"   

Those who follow Him should be so authentic, so transparent, that no one even thinks to question the truthfulness of what they say or wonder if there is any need to search for hidden messages.  James, likewise, directs us to plain speech.  "Since you know that God cares, let your language show it. Don’t add words like "I swear to God" to your own words. Don’t show your impatience by concocting oaths to hurry up God. Just say yes or no. Just say what is true. That way, your language can’t be used against you." (James 5:12, The Message)

Listen to your words today. See if you have developed a habit of inflation, even in the little stuff.    
Do you exaggerate the tone of another's words?    
When you speak of yourself do your words make no more, no less of the situation than is real?  
Do you use language in a way that always shines the favorable light on yourself?   

Take Ms. Chole’s advice – “Fast facades!” Aim for honesty.   I am not suggesting that in the name of being real that we have to say hurtful, mean, or ugly things!   There's a time for discretion which is expressed best by silence.   Sometimes the best words are no words.   Honor the Lord by refusing all forms of puffery, dishonesty, and fluff!   Refuse to cultivate an image.  Be the person God, in His grace, has called you to be, nothing more, nothing less.

Our word from the Word -  "We refuse to wear masks and play games. We don’t maneuver and manipulate behind the scenes.  And we don’t twist God’s Word to suit ourselves.  Rather, we keep everything we do and say out in the open, the whole truth on display, so that those who want to can see and judge for themselves in the presence of God." (2 Corinthians 4:2, The Message)

____________

Abba, I am so tempted to dance for others,

to seek their approval, to love their admiration.
Captivate me with Your holy beauty!
Teach me to love nothing more than obedience to You.

Help me to be honest with myself,
honest with others,

transparent before You. 
Forgive me for playing games.

Lead me to contentment with the gifts You give,

the place You choose, the life with which I am blessed.

Jesus, secure me in Your love.
Whisper again to me,

“I Love You just as you are and too much to let you remain as you are.”

Amen

Grow Strong from the Struggle

As I raked up the branches scattered across the lawn by the recent storm, my muscles protested.  After about 20 minutes, despite a chilly wind, I was perspiring. Why? My physical frame is not accustomed to that kind of exertion. I am not ‘in shape!’  I could be. In a matter of weeks, were I to start a regimen that made my body work, there would be a response in me. My heart would become more efficient, my muscles stronger.

Stresses of life, things that make us emotionally and spiritually exhausted can serve a similar purpose. It is true. The Psalm says, "Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I obey your word. You are good, and what you do is good; teach me your decrees." (Psalm 119:66-68, NIV) Did you catch the meaning there?  He was apathetic towards God, wandering – until adversity brought clarity, new focus, and a renewed desire to grow spiritually

Are you dealing with a challenge to your sense of well-being? It could be a physical need, an emotional struggle, an inner conflict with temptation. It might just be a winter storm (smile!) or being without electricity for days. (Yes, that’s tough for those of us accustomed to the comforts of 21^st century life.)  Whatever it is, instead of griping about it, instead of falling into despair, why not choose to use the hardship to grow?  We believe that situations that create stress are our enemies. Think again!  Those who are always indulged, pampered and protected from every struggle, never develop  the resources to live a whole, healthy life.  In much the same way, those Christians who avoid situations that try their faith will never discover the depths of God’s grace.  Those who refuse to sweat cannot compete at the highest levels!

Let me ask you to think about this again. What's stressing you today?  Share those things with the One who loves you, but instead of begging for an escape, ask for strength to endure!  Let the stress push you to rethink your assumptions about life, to help you to become more self-aware, to lead you to greater faith that take you deeper spiritually.  Hardship can relieve us of our illusions of self-sufficiency and in our weakness we will lean on the Lord and on those we trust to help us along.

If we don't respond to it in a healthy way, stress can damage our emotions, break our health, or drive us to depression.  IF we remember we have a Resource to whom we can turn, One who will not leave us without hope, our stresses will build great faith and deep character in Christ.  James, the first pastor of the church in Jerusalem, a man who faced intense persecution and internal pressures of a church in conflict, gives us wisdom for the way -  “Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.” 1:2-3 (The Message)

Paul, the man who served the Lord without reserve, speaks to us from his experience. “We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us.”  (2 Corinthians 1:8-10. NIV) 

Oh, yes, I must be transparent. The losses that have come my way in the last few years, the sorrow of losing my wife, the struggles of life, have not always found me trusting or asking to be strong. Sometimes I cry and complain.  Sometimes I plead for relief! Yet, as I reflect on these stresses, I am thankful that I am led by the Spirit to rely on God and I know that I am made richer – in faith, hope, and love – praise God!

Are you stressed?  Don’t be a Lone Ranger!

Take your cares to the One who cares for you today.  Weep, if you need to. Hold open your heart and invite Him to heal and help. Offer thanksgiving, not necessarily for the hard things, but for His grace to keep you in the middle of the mess.  Repent (turn away) from the things that you choose that are really just avoidance of the real issues. Boldly seek Him, asking Him to show you HIS way instead of just begging for an answer to the question – Why?  Thank Him that He knows exactly what you need, exactly how much you  can take. His goal is to make His beauty shine through you and to lead you to real and eternal life.

Here is the word from the Word - “let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith.* Because of the joy* awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people;* then you won’t become weary and give up.” (Hebrews 12: 1-3)

Jesus says, “the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." (John 14:26-27, NIV)

_________

10,000 Reasons (BlessThe Lord)

The sun comes up, it's a new day dawning.

It's time to sing Your song again.

Whatever may pass and whatever lies before me,

Let me be singing when the evening comes.

You're rich in love and You're slow to anger,

Your name is great and Your heart is kind.

For all Your goodness, I will keep on singing,

Ten thousand reasons for my heart to find.

Bless the Lord, O my soul, O my soul

Worship His holy name.

Sing like never before,

O my soul,

I'll worship Your holy name.

And on that day when my strength is failing,

The end draws near and my time has come,

Still my soul will sing Your praise unending,

Ten thousand years and then forevermore!

Jonas Myrin | Matt Redman

© 2011 Said And Done Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)

SHOUT! Music Publishing (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)

CCLI License # 810055

The Best Way

Are you ever tempted to do a ‘half job,’ knowing that you could do better but settling for just ‘good enough?’  Why do we chose the lesser way?  There are many reasons:  we may be pressed for time, we might be tired, we could be lazy. Or, perhaps, we have forgotten the ‘why’ that caused us to start in the first place. 

Paul wrote to some Christians who were leaving the excellence of the Spirit-filled life behind. They were settling for a religion of duty and rules, replacing the pursuit of Jesus and the Way of love.  After challenging them in the strongest terms to recover their devotion, he says "You were running superbly! Who cut in on you, deflecting you from the true course of obedience?" (Galatians 5:7, The Message)  They were settling for human regulations and comparing themselves to each other instead of loving Jesus and focusing on faithful obedience.

That still happens to people today.  In a time of desperation, they find the love of Jesus that saves. In their encounter with Him, they are freed from guilt; there is a new understanding of the ‘why’ of life. There is hope and peace.  And, then, as they begin to mature in the Way, the Spirit asks more of them.  He asks them to deal with old habits, to grow in grace, to forgive old debts, to let go of old loves … and some decide to settle for good enough.  They want just enough “Jesus” to have hope for eternal life but they will not hear His call to follow each day. A couple of hours of ‘inspiration’ on Sunday morning is about the extent of their experience of God.  They do not abandon their faith in God nor do they deny Jesus is the Savior, but they are unwilling to let Him be Lord.

Am I describing your life?
Have you settled for a routine Christianity, something you know could be better, but which you are unwilling to pursue with your whole heart, soul, mind, and strength?  Here is the paradox – excellence of faith does not depend on you. You did not save yourself from sin and you cannot will yourself to a rich, fulfilling experience.  We come with open hands and a ready heart – offering ourselves to Him.  Oh yes, there are daily choices to make, the disciplines of the Spirit that give God channels in which His living water flows! 

We need to take the pattern of the Psalm and understand it for our lives. "I rise before dawn and cry for help; I have put my hope in your word. My eyes stay open through the watches of the night, that I may meditate on your promises." (Psalm 119:147-148, NIV)   The writer says that he makes seeking God a priority, rising before the dawn. He says he makes it personal, not content with empty prayer, but making it a cry for help!  And, he says that he focuses on the promise, hoping in God’s declaration!

Give God the priority place in your life. Make it personal to your experience.  Know what He promises.  If you do this, you will be drawn on by the Spirit to a life of excellence. 

Before you go today, meditate on these words of hope, the word from the Word. Paul prayed joyfully because of his "being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”  That assurance gave him reason to ask the Lord that "your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God." (Philippians 1:9-11, NIV)

Confident in Him, we will live the BEST WAY, with joy and for His honor!

________________

No Longer Slaves

No Longer Slaves

(worship at this link)

You unravel me with a melody

You surround me with a song

Of deliverance from my enemies

Till all my fears are gone

I'm no longer a slave to fear

I am a child of God

I'm no longer a slave to fear

I am a child of God

From my Mother's womb

You have chosen me

Love has called my name

I've been born again into Your family

Your blood flows through my veins

You split the sea so I could walk right through it

My fears were drowned in perfect love

You rescued me so I could stand and sing

I am a child of God

Brian Johnson | Joel Case | Jonathan David Helser

© 2014 Bethel Music Publishing

CCLI License # 810055