What God Sees

Most of us, tend to see ourselves through the eyes of others. We believe what we have been told about ourselves growing up--or we believe what we see in the mirror. We even accept what we think, even if it is born out of times of grief, stress, abuse and all manner of hardship.

Sometimes, God will come to us, and tell us who we (really) are, and we won't accept what God sees, because we have believed lies for so long. We can't even begin to recognize the possibilities of God, in us. We think that the greatness of God is reserved for a few charismatic others--who are "better" than we are. The thing is, that is how WE choose, but it is not how God chooses. God purposely chooses the weak so that only He can be glorified. He wants all of the recognition, and wants none of it to go to the flesh and blood of mankind; it simply doesn't belong there.
1 Corinthians 1:27-29 (Amplified Version) makes it very clear: "[No] for God selected (deliberately chose) what in the world is foolish to put the wise to shame, and what the world calls weak to put the strong to shame.

And God also selected (deliberately chose) what in the world is lowborn and insignificant and branded and treated with contempt, even the things that are nothing, that He might depose and bring to nothing the things that are,

So that no mortal man should [have pretense for glorying and] boast in the presence of God." 

Perhaps, we don't recognize when we don't see what God sees--when it just doesn't line up. Moses certainly didn't (Exodus 4:10-12); Gideon didn't, either (Judges 6:15)--they both suffered from an inferiority complex. Sometimes, though, we suffer from the opposite complex, too. There is a fine line.  Both are unrighteous--both keep us from fulfilling God's purpose, in us. One stunts us, and the other causes us to focus too much attention on ourselves. To "glory in the Lord" is more than merely saying, "To God be the glory" when receiving accolades. It is living a life of humility, not choosing or accepting special recognition for the work of God. It is how the apostles lived. We must be careful that we are not being worshipped--another very fine line. Strong's Concordance defines idolatry (eidólolatria) as: "worship or service of an image"; that can't simply mean statues and religious icons, since man was made in God's "image" and after His likeness. We must not worship the image of God (man/mortality), we worship God (Immortal). 

The Word of God instructs us: "So that there should be no division or discord or lack of adaptation [of the parts of the body to each other], but the members all alike should have a mutual interest in and care for one another." (1 Corinthians 1:25, AMP) 
God knew (because He placed it in us) the need for human affection and recognition. He sent this word to give us controls and parameters so that we could remain humble and each of us could receive the same (alike, mutual) level of honor within the Body of Christ--no one going without, and conversely, no one receiving more than others. We are simply to give honor to whom honor is due, but there are guidelines, scripturally-speaking, clearly. How do we glory, in ourselves? To glory, (in 1 Corinthians 1:29) means "to vaunt" [kauchaomai]. Vaunting is "to make a vain display of one's own worth or attainments" or  "to call attention to...". We must be careful that we don't vaunt ourselves--or even allow others to do it. We don't want to be ostentatious or showy--always in the forefront. Let God alone exalt, in due time.

Many of us, like Moses and Gideon, have the opposite issue. We see our "flaws" as reasons we can't be used in any significant way by God. It is specifically because of our lack that God can use us so mightily. It is when we are so weak, that God gets the greatest glory and shines the brightest. No one looks at us, and thinks we are responsible--they know it had to be God, and He alone is glorified. It doesn't matter if we stutter, are too old, fat, skinny, short, uneducated, weak or poor; because it isn't about us, but about the God in us and His ability. When God looks at us, and chooses us, He isn't looking at us--He is looking at Himself, in us. Nothing else matters--His glory overtakes every insufficiency.

Lord, help us to see only what you see. Make us humble, esteeming others more highly than ourselves. Help us to recognize that all of us in your Body are one, and equal--none more important than the other. Help us to see that while leadership requires different care, it doesn't require different honor. Teach us to provide for our pastors, in love as we would want to be cared for in that position, but not to worship them. Gives us hearts and minds to glory only in You and in the cross, that brought us grace. Strengthen us to see ourselves as You see us, so that we may work in Your Kingdom, planting and watering as You provide a plentiful harvest of souls. Lord, teach us balance and temperance in all things. In Jesus' Name. Amen.    

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

"DANGER OFTEN LURKS, WHERE DESTINY BECKONS"

I read this profoundly true phrase in a historical novel, by Christian author, Tommy Tenney. It was the story of Hadassah (Hebrew name)--or Queen Esther of Persia, as most of us regard her.When I read the phrase, it struck me. I thought, how true! We want the glory of our destiny, but no part of the process--often treacherous, that will get us there. Faith, however, requires some sacrifice, some trial, some work (James 2:20).I began to think back over my own life and my desire to get the prize, but always trying to avoid the battle wounds--only to find myself back at the starting point again and again. It was only after I made a decisive choice to submit my will to God, in the process of being molded, did I find the peace that I so desperately sought. When I stopped "kicking against the pricks", I found joy, in spite of difficult circumstances.Not only Hadassah recognized that where danger lurks, destiny beckons. The Word of God is full of hosts of characters that learned tha...
Read more

NAME CALLING

It may seem as if this blog is devoted to how we relate to one another, as Christians। I stand accused. The reason for this, is that I believe it ranks so high on the list that if we do not take corrective steps, many of "our greatest" will suffer. I am thinking in particular, today about the ways we use titles in our churches. I understand and agree with the need for some form of protocol. I see the proper use of some titles--those that are biblically-inspired. However, do we misuse them?I am of the belief, that titles, in our churches are out of control. What is the reason? I am going to suggest that it has something to do with the history of racism in America. I hate to focus on churches being "black" or "white", but this particular issue is a much bigger problem in the "black church". Here is my historical take on the issue. Black people in America, we know have had little or no power, until very recently. The only legitimate place (in partic...
Read more

Oh, that Fire, that Tongue, that Tongue...

In this day, we are pretty consumed with our bodies; we are very health and beauty-concious. We want very much to prolong our lives from the physical perspective and to look our best while we're at it. It isn't a bad thing at all, to have these pursuits, since the Bible declares that our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit--and we should give them great care. There must be a prioritizing of things, however; our physical bodies are not first on God's list, but at the top of His list: that our "soul should prosper". The Scripture in Psalm 34, provides the formula for living a long and peaceful life. What must we do? First: KEEP THY TONGUE FROM EVIL ! That is striking! It is striking because, on the surface, it doesn't seem like such a big thing--in terms of prolonging life! Also, because often it seems as if this is the very thing we neglect to give care to, the most! We allow our tongues to say whatever they will without thought, or to lie--with great tho...
Read more