I am what I am...

As a kid one of my favorite cartoons was Popeye the Sailor. His self-evaluation was “I am what I am and that’s all that I am”.

  I’m thinking today is that a good guiding principle for life?  I am what I am, and that’s it?  Am I stuck with my flaws and my sins?  Thankfully not.  Jesus spoke in Matthew 18 about the necessity and possibility for personal change.  In yesterday’s post I wrote about the first of His list of demands to be great in His Kingdom.  I’ve dubbed them the “Anti-Qualities of greatness. Today I’ll wrap it up by looking at the last two.

When I strive to be great a prominent  flaw that crops up in me is self-centeredness.  I naturally push to the front of the line, attempt to get noticed and work for the approval of people around me.  Yet Jesus instructed that I shift my attention from myself to others.  Regarding the little children around Him he said: See that you do not look down on one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven. Matthew 18:10.  Engaging in comparisons is a surefire sign that I’m thinking about me first.  We do this when we build ourselves up by tearing people down. Perhaps we’re not saying anything to them, but we may berate them to others, all to feel better about ourselves. That’s the way of the world, the old nature, but not for a follower of Jesus.

To wrap up the teaching Jesus brings up the issue of forgiving others. He tells the story of the servant who had been forgiven a huge, un-payable debt (in the millions of dollars).  The lender sent him on his way totally forgiven of the debt.  You would think from that point forward this fortunate soul would extend the same grace he had received to others.  But as you probably know he had the gall to demand full payment from a neighbor of just a few dollars.  Because the hapless man could not pay he had the him thrown into debtor’s prison. Those who observed this were rightfully shocked and reported it to the lender who rescinded his offer of forgiveness and had the unmerciful guy thrown into prison where he would be tortured until he could pay his debt.  Jesus ends with this warning: This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart. Matthew 18:35

What!  I am to forgive others, and do it from my heart!? I can see forgiving others with my mouth, but from my heart is another matter. These two commands, two qualities that are demanded of me before I could begin to say “I’m great in God’s Kingdom” are simply too much for me.  I cannot by an act of my will change my self-centeredness.  Nor by just putting my mind to it can I forgive people who hurt me.  I’m afraid that “I am what I am and that’s all that I am”.  When Jesus called me to change He didn’t lob me a softball.  He called me to basic character transformation, an overwhelming task.  It takes a miracle only He can accomplish this in my life.  Only He can change me from what I am to what he envisions me to be.

Paul said, Anyone who belongs to Christ is a new person. The past is forgotten, and everything is new. 2 Corinthians 5:17 (Contemporary English Version) I know that the new creation Jesus offers covers not only my past sin, but my current character flaws.  He sets the bar high because only with His power can we ever achieve it.  Then He gets the credit and the glory, not me. With Christ’s transforming life working in me I can truly change!

I’d like to hear from you today.  We are not stuck with who we are.  Jesus changes us. How is Jesus changing you?  What’s the challenge for change that He’s laid out for you today?

The Anti-Qualities of Greatness

I watched the National Football League college draft the other day with interest.  A top pick was interviewed and asked what he would be bringing to the team.  His response was that he would add to the team through his strength, speed, athleticism and his great personality.  His plan is to make a name for himself and his team.  I’m sure he was overwhelmed with the moment but to me it still came off as prideful.

Reading yesterday in Mathew 18 I found the disciples in much the same situation.  They were riding the crest of Jesus’ popularity and being a part of all that He was doing.  The events of the recent past had made them feel it was all going their way; Peter had walked on water, they had been on the mountaintop with Jesus where they heard God’s voice, and Peter even had his taxes paid by means of a miracle. They felt something truly great was on the horizon so they came to Jesus and asked, “Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?”  They wanted to position themselves for the summit of what was ahead. The rest of the chapter is given to Jesus teaching them what I’ll call the “anti-qualities of greatness”.  These are attributes that God holds as essential and our basic nature eschews.

He begins by demanding a transformation. He said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become…Matthew 18:3.  “Change” and  “become”.  Change:  A command for me to leave negative things behind.  Become: God has a new way for me to think and act.  If I want to be great I must yield to this transformation of leaving old ways and adopting new ones.

So, in what ways is He calling me to change and become?

The first is found in verses 3 and 4: And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 18:3-4

Jesus calls me to change from my pride and become like a little child. Pride is thinking more of myself than I really am. Pride is the sin that led to the fall. Pride is living for myself rather than living for others. Wherever there is pride there will be conflict and division.

Jesus’ solution to pride is humility.  Humility is knowing myself, accepting who I am and being myself.   It avoids two extremes: thinking too little of myself and thinking too much of myself. To be truly humble is to not deny the gifts and abilities God has given me, but use them for His glory, not mine.

This is one of the anti-qualities I was speaking of. The world says I need to self-assert,  Jesus says He values self-abasement.  Not every child is a pleasant, humble child.  Some are not humble and fun to be around.  But most are. So, what are the qualities of a unspoiled child?

The children I see that fit this are:

• ·         Trusting
• ·         Desire to make others happy
• ·         Avoid boasting and bragging
• ·         Play well with others

Therefore, my goal today will be to become more childlike.  To be more trusting of God; to make my goal to please others, not myself, to avoid bragging about what I know or do; and play well with others . That will mean being watchful for areas that I need to change.  What about you today?  How can you join me in being more childlike?

PS: Tomorrow I’ll wrap this up with two more areas Christ calls me to change.

How much can I expect from me?

Fulfilling the many expectations of life weighs a person down.  I’m pulled in multiple directions... I’m a husband, father, grandfather, pastor, homeowner, business person and much more.

It is the same for you. You balance career, education, physical exercise, ministry, family, and friendships,  all of which demand huge chunks of your attention and effort.  The problem is you just can’t do it all.  After divvying up your life in all of these ways there’s just not enough of you to go around.  You can’t give more than 100%!  You end up feeling burdened and guilt ridden with a heavy load and expectations you simply cannot fulfill.

So I read today in Matthew 11:28-30 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." (New International Version)

Jesus says “If you are weary and burdened just say so.”  I’d raise my hand but I’m too tired.  What’s His answer?

Take on His yoke.  At first that sounds like He’s adding more, not making it better.  But please understand what He’s saying.  A yoke was custom made for each individual animal. The yoke made for one would not fit another.  So Jesus is telling us that the yoke He places on you specially fitted for you. We get burdened when we take on other’s yokes, trying to measure up to or exceed their work. You are not responsible to carry the same load or pull the same weight as others around you.  His expectation is that you do just what He creates for you…not more and not less.  He points out that when you aim to fulfill His vision and plan for your life you will find His yoke is “easy”.  Here “easy” means “kind” and “useful”, not “effortless”. God is not promising a life without labor or effort.  Instead He designs a life plan that gives focus, purpose and value. 

Real effort, yes, but in work that is right for you. So the expectations that Jesus has for you fits your abilities and personality. Furthermore His plan is kind and leads us to a useful outcome. 

Jesus does not burden us with impossibilities.  Instead He gently leads us to an unburdened life.  The result is great.  You can end the day, and eventually end your life with satisfaction.  Rested through assurance you have lived your life on His terms for you.

How are you doing?  Are you over or under challenged in your work?  Are you taking on His yoke?  I'd like to hear from you!

Pastor Todd