Lifestyles of the Right and Blameless

Join with others in following my [Paul's] example,
brothers [and sisters!], and take note of those
who live according to the pattern we gave you.
-Philippians 3:17-

I am so thankful for people who have been examples of godliness in my life.

People who reach out and act out the love of God are refreshing and energizing agents.  So many times in my life, God has provided a great example to me at just the right time to give me a boost.  Whether that person simply reminded me with their actions that God cares about me, or whether they snapped me out of my selfishness with an example of how I should behave instead, I am always thankful to see an example.

It is difficult to put into words the gift that strong, godly believers are.  It is so much easier to go on trying to live right, and more importantly, trying to have a functional relationship with God, when you can see another faulty human being who is already doing it.  The key might be that seeing an example activates our imagination and reminds us of the possible.  When we see someone else doing the thing we dream of, we are able to see ourselves sticking our feet into their shoes (because we can see their shoes!) and consider the possibility that we can do it if they can.  It instills hope into our hearts.  Sometimes that is all we need to get moving in the right direction.

How much more powerful it is to SEE someone doing the right thing than to be TOLD about doing the right thing!

And what's best about people who are godly examples, is that they almost never notice the impact they are having.  It is out of a humble heart, not from self-righteously trying to prove themselves - they are not doing what they do to show off, unless it is to show God off.  They are just fulfilling their "moral obligation" to God.*  But sometimes examples need to be thanked for what they do, because encouragers need more encouragement than anybody else.


Thank you to all the people who have been an example to me.  Because of you...

...Lives have been transformed when you refused to give up on them, and now I have a better chance of being persistent to the same end.
...I know it is possible to truly love people when they are unkind - I can see that love is a commitment, an action, NOT A FEELING.
...I know what it means to think of others interests and not just my own.
...I no longer let my emotions and my thoughts rule my life, but I know I can confess God's truth instead, and be free.
...I know what hospitality is, and that with practice I can put others before myself, welcoming them in my home.
...I have been urged on to intercede for people faithfully.
...I know what a pure heart looks like, free of bitterness and selfishness.
...I have seen what it is to take care of the sick.
Because of you, I have felt the love of Christ at the times I least deserve it.


*I recently listened to a really great lesson called Our Obligation to God, and I recommend it.  But if you don't hear it, just think of this:  God is our Father.  Imagine your earthly father or mother.  They give us everything we need for life and more.  We don't have any legal or technical obligation to them, but what adult child would not show their love (through action!!) to their parents, or take care of them in their old age?  Morally, we have no other choice than to treat our parents well and do what we can to show we love them.  We could never pay them back for or deserve what they've done for us, but it would be wrong not to serve them in some way.  It is the same with God!  

Praise (from) The Lord!

I was given a little award by my boss at our year-end championships/awards/party for the whole staff last weekend.  It felt good to be brought in front of everyone to be recognized for doing well.  How would it feel to be given an award in front of a crowd by Jesus Christ or God?  THAT really makes my heart flutter and my cheeks burn!  If that doesn't motivate me to forget about scampering around trying to get recognition from people and to start living my life for compliments from my savior and my creator, I don't know what will.

I crave God's pride in me - who cares what anyone else thinks!

Disclaimer: I do still care inordinately about the approval and praise of other people.  But the reality is that as long as I live inside the guidelines of love that God has laid out for me, IT DOES NOT MATTER what another soul on earth thinks about me, whether they think I deserve awards or not.

Second Disclaimer: I also know that while God wants me to strive to please him, I can't do that just because I want rewards and recognition.  I need, and God wants, more than anything, for me to have a relationship with him and know that he loves me NO MATTER WHAT.  If that's not my basis, then I'll always feel like a failure.  I'm not going to be able to live up to the awesomeness of what God deserves and what I "should" accomplish for him.  And he is obviously ok with that.

Vanity

At fellowship this week, we talked about the darkness of our culture.  It was enlightening!  Pun intended, because we are to bring to light evil things.  I just wanted to sort through some of my thoughts.

We are so appearance-obsessed in our culture, to the point that it is disturbing.  If you don't look good or act a certain way, then you're not cool.  

And being cool is an idol.  

A literal idol.  

I have to admit that I believe I struggle with this idol, and I never thought so.  But if I don't, then why do I care so much if my hair "looks stupid" or if my pants "don't fit me right."  As if I look like a dirty disheveled caveman whose pants won't stay up!  Some days I think about it more than I think about God, I swear.  Sometimes there is some tiny thing "wrong" with my appearance that causes me to feel ASHAMED of myself all day!!!  I feel judged, not good enough to even go out in public.  How can that be right?  I *know* I'm not the only one who experiences this.  We complain to each other about how we look, don't we?  Like it's nagging at us and we feel the need to make an excuse for ourselves, so that the person we're with knows that we disapprove of the way we look, so they can't think that we are oblivious to the abomination that is our chipped nail polish.

You know why this is such a terrible blot on us?  I already mentioned that it keeps our thoughts off of God, but it does so much more than just that.  It keeps us shallow.  We also become preoccupied with stereotypes about how other people groom themselves, or how they talk, behave, whatever.  If I am hard on myself about something, you have to know that I'm hard on others about it.  Because it becomes this thing about being good enough by my works or by who I have made myself.  Today I was good because I took the time to shower and brush my teeth.  Therefore, I am better than the person who hasn't showered in two days.  But tomorrow when I wake up late and can't shower, I will be a stinky bad person.  

I know I'm simplifying and that that example is random, but I'm trying to make the point that coolness is a judgment we make on ourselves or others.  We decide something about a person in our head before we even speak to them.  We determine worth based on something that has very little to do with character and the state of the heart.

I'm not sure what the remedy for this is yet, because it's not going to go away any time soon, unless we are suddenly in the middle of World War III and all we care about is survival.  It's a matter of changing the way we think and consciously deciding not to base our worth or anyone elses on appearances, accessories or anything aside from what Christ did for them.  He set the worth of every single human sky high, and it is wrong wrong wrong to rob anyone of that, especially ourselves.