Just the other day I was walking
into a building and an individual said to me they read my article and enjoyed
it. Many of you say those kind words and encourage me. I am always struck by
that. I guess because I am surprised you even read it. I was probably more
overwhelmed when my wife said she reads it too (we will leave that right there).
When others say that I want to shake my head and say, “you need better reading
material.” It’s an image thing.
I just don’t see myself as a
writer. Writing is hard. It is hard to stare at a blank 8½ X 5½ block of screen
(it used to be paper) and write words that say something let alone something with
meaning. As a school student my spelling was horrible (honestly it still is)
spell check has been delivered right from heaven. My grammar is just marginally
better. I just don’t seem to have the skills needed to write and yet you say
you read it. I am not a writer. I guess I think a writer has thoughts and ideas
just gushing all the time (it doesn’t happen like that for me) and they are
spelling and grammar wizards (that’s what editors are for) at least that’s what
I think. I still have an image problem.
That image thing is not just
limited to writing. I still don’t think of myself as a pastor or preacher. I
love to do it. But I don’t like having to get it ready. That is just work most
weeks even though I have GREAT material to work from (the TRUTH of Scripture).
I still don’t think of myself as worthy or capable and yet others comment as to
how God spoke through those words to pick them up or convict them to be
different. I do know that once I start preaching/teaching or writing and get
going often times there is a “zone” or “groove” I’m in and it is life and
light. It’s good to be there and stay there. But, that’s what I image for
myself and honestly it really doesn’t matter what I think. The only one whose
opinion matters is…well…God’s. What does God think of me and you?
We are under attack from within
and without regarding personal image. People use names to attack our identity,
self-image and if we let it our very worth. We let others define us by what we
do or say or act (I know if it walks like a duck…) but others don’t define us.
The only one who has the right and responsibility to define us is our Creator.
The potter as scripture calls him molds and shapes us into what he wants or
needs and has the very right to reshape us at his whim……or does he? That is the
struggle isn’t it? Does he have the right to make a new image of ourselves? He
does when we want to move from sin to righteousness but that image renewal can’t
end there he is making us into a new creature. A new image of his son Jesus
whole and holy. It is not my impression of who I am or who others think I am
but rather who The ONE is making me to be. Who HE thinks I am is what makes the
difference.
Maybe “Blessed are the poor in Spirit”
means blessed are those who don’t think so much about who they are and how they
do what they do because they don’t get too “puffed up” or “stuck up” with
themselves. J.B. Phillips puts Jesus words this way, “How happy are the humble-minded, for the
kingdom of Heaven is theirs!” Matthew 5:3 Phillips
Not
a bad payoff for a less than perfect self-image!
In
HIS Service and yours,
Bro G
No comments:
Post a Comment