Your Attention Please!

Be careful not to display your righteousness merely to be seen by people. Otherwise you have no reward with your Father in heaven.

Matthew 6:1

 

I've been doing some reading (and the book has NO pictures either).  The author made a very bold confession whereby he stated, "I was applauded by those whom I thought it my duty to please. I was blind to the depth of iniquity wherein I was cast away from Your eyes."  The author...St. Augustine.  He was making a point about seeking to please others instead of God.  And he does make a very valid point!  After all, receiving recognition is a human craving. However, sadly some seek that recognition above all else even appearing to be pious in the process.

 

Jesus reminds us that we are not to put our righteousness on display just so others will see it and speak nicely of us.  We are go be genuine!  We are to real!  We are to be different!

 

If we seek to be recognized then does that not damage any relationships we may have?  How long before others begin to see through that veil and decide we don't really represent Christ, we represent ourselves and are, thus, self-serving frauds.

 

We are commanded to love others as much as we love ourselves.  The question is, do we?  I confess there are times when I fail miserably with this.  I confess there are times I am envious of those who receive recognition.  And it eats me up inside until I confess it to God and as Him to refocus my heart.  

 

Be Honest!

Be Real!

Be Caring!

Be Genuine!

 

 

Out of the Limelight

A man with leprosy came and knelt in front of Jesus, begging to be healed. “If you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean,” he said. Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out and touched him. “I am willing,” he said. “Be healed!” Instantly the leprosy disappeared, and the man was healed. Then Jesus sent him on his way with a stern warning: “Don’t tell anyone about this. Instead, go to the priest and let him examine you. Take along the offering required in the law of Moses for those who have been healed of leprosy. This will be a public testimony that you have been cleansed.”
Mark 1:40-44 

I remember reading this passage in Seminary and pondering the question "If I had Jesus' amazing compassion and power to heal, I wouldn't want to keep it a secret. So why did Jesus specifically tell this healed leper not to tell anyone?"  Jesus did this same thing many times throughout His ministry, and even took the Pharisees to task for making a big show of their "piety".

It is in our nature, I believe, to want people to notice when we do something good, and sometimes we get caught up in the attention and seek out the limelight.  

This morning I put on a shirt that I had not been able to wear for two years and in the darkness of this morning, I grabbed it out of the closet and guess what? IT FIT!  I had lost enough weight that this shirt finally fit again.  I wanted to tell everyone.  I wanted to wake my Bride up and tell her, but I sat on the sofa and told Woody (who yawned and went back to sleep).  But I wanted that moment of recognition.  

I remember one of my Theater Coaches tell us, "You are to do the job which you have been given to the best of your ability.  Let others recognize the quality of your work without you drawing attention to it."  That rather hurt at the time, because I wanted people to notice and how would they notice if I didn't tell them?  Then it hit me, if my work is worth noticing, it will be, if not then I still do my best.

Jesus told the leper not to tell anyone because He did not want people to start coming to Him strictly for healing instead of coming to hear the Message He was given to share.  Jesus avoided the limelight so His Message would be the focal point instead of His gifts.  Shouldn't we be the same way?

Dust Off And Remember Who Is In Control

Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?

Matthew 6:27 

When has God ever told us that we should worry?  As a matter of fact, God reminds us to not worry, throw your worries away, be still and remember that He is really in control. And yet we worry anyway.  Why is that?  

Think about this, what do we have to worry about that will change our lives forever?  The things we tend to worry about are so insignificant in the God's plan for our lives, yet it is these tiny things that we focus our attention on instead of letting God handle it.

Here's the point for us to take with us, worry doesn't do anything for us except replace God in our lives.  When we worry, we are telling God that our issue is too much for even Him to handle.  Instead, my challenge for us today is every time we find ourselves worrying, immediately stop and tell God, "I'm glad YOU've got this instead of me!" And then find something else to think about.

Me?  I'm going to spend more time being thankful for each and every one of you!  Thank you for, not only reading these, but for making my life one where I praise God for bringing us together.  Thank you for the comfort.  Thank you for the smiles and laughs.  Thank you for letting me be your friend!

Drama....Drama.....Drama!

If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all people. 

Romans 12:18 

I was a Theatre Major in College and LOVED it!  I loved performing in the plays that entertained my fellow students.  It was wonderful actually studying and becoming the character I was to portray on stage.  As a result, I have learned to notice when a person is "acting" or creating drama for attention.

Let's face it, we are deluged with the concept that being overly dramatic is the way to get people to pay attention to you.  I have found quite the opposite to be true.  Don't believe me?  Come with me to any theater, coffee shop, restaurant, or other public place....within 15 minutes of sitting in a nice quiet corner someone (or group of someones) will inevitably appear, sit around my little haven, and start being loud.  

And here's another thought about drama, it pops up in the office as "office politics" and it will pop up even in social media.  Here's my point: Some people like to create drama for attention and to "poke the bear" to start an argument just for the purpose of arguing.  If we fall into the trap of responding, then we have just walked onto the stage and become part of the drama.

Remember, you always have the opportunity to stay out of the drama.  You also have the opportunity to simply wish them a nice day and walk away.  Our natural instinct is to step up and fight back.  However, we find this wise counsel in Proverbs 17:28: "Even a fool who remains silent is considered wise, and the one who holds his tongue is deemed discerning."

Leave drama for the actors!  Be honest, real, sincere, and treat others as you want to be treated.

When Do We Seek Peace?

You, Lord, give true peace
    to those who depend on you,
    because they trust you.

Isaiah 26:3 

 

We've spent a long time hearing about riots, arguing about politics, people protesting this or that.  Then the elections began NOT with "here's what we will do to bring peace" but with "I may be a horrible person, but my opponent is WORSE!"  Now that the elections are technically over, the unrest continues.  

 

Then we deal daily with "office politics"...what some call favoritism or 'brown nosing.'  It seems that every where you turn, people are unhappy and seeking to convince others to agree with their opinion by taking extreme measures.  And during all this unrest and noise, we hear no one speaking of peace.

 

Peace...TRUE peace is the knowledge that no matter what happens, God is still God and He is in control and loves us!  When we focus on THAT, then we will begin to understand peace.  You see, peace doesn't mean I'm right and you're wrong; peace doesn't mean you're right and I'm wrong.  Peace means God's plans for us will be completed in spite of all the fighting and arguing and tantrums and inattention.  God is patient.  God loves you.  God has a plan.  God is the One to Trust (It's even on our currency).

 

Step back from the politics for just one day and focus on God's love for you.  And you will begin to sense His peace fill you.

LOOK AT ME!

Let someone else praise you, not your own mouth—
    a stranger, not your own lips.

~Proverbs 27:2

Ever know anyone who just seemed to crave being the center of attention?  Someone who wants their every deed to be known, recognized, and acknowledged?  Let's face it, we all, at some point, enjoy it a little when our good deeds are noticed and acknowledged.  But what about those who seem to live for the recognition? 

Let me be clear, I am an Introvert!  I like quiet, behind-the-scenes, type activities.  Being involved is a need, but being the center of attention is extremely uncomfortable.

I learned a long, long (long, long, long, long) time ago, in my Army days, that if you wanted to be noticed, then try to be unnoticeable. The more I tried to be nondescript and camouflaged, the more my First Sergeant would pick me out; especially for such glamorous tasks as "Who's going to dig my latrines for me?" and "Who's going to wash my Mess Sergeant's cookware?"  During those moments, it was as if the world had gone dark and the only shining light was focused on me.

But it is sometimes frustrating when you do your best and, even though you don't like the spotlight, you'd like at least some acknowledgement.  After all, why even try if your efforts are not appreciated.  But then I hear Grampa's voice in my head, "People will get bored with you if you always brag about everything you do.If you want people to notice, don't do things to be noticed."  Hmmmm....something worth pondering.

Remember, "For all that is secret God will eventually bring into the open, and everything that is concealed will be brought to light and made known to all." Luke 8:17