Form or Function?
January 28, 2006
“Conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear.” ~ I Peter 1:17
I read recently about a judge who ordered people to display bumper stickers on their personal autos to stimulate their rehabilitation and encourage good habits. When imposing punishment in his court, he gave those guilty of driving while intoxicated two options.
Their first was a sticker reading, “This car owned by a convicted drunk driver.” Understandably, nearly all chose the judge’s second rolling message, “Enroll in an alcohol treatment program.” Strangely enough, most of these people–who didn’t care enough to stop drinking when they shouldn’t–were still concerned about what others thought of them. They wanted to maintain a good image!
Fear of embarrassment applies to other kinds of unacceptable behavior as well. For example, not many of us would choose to walk around with a sign on our backs that reads something like, “I’m a Christian who won’t spend time in prayer or Bible study.” Nor would we want to wear a sign that read: “I’m a child of God who gossips,” or “I say I follow Jesus but am really controlled by lust instead of love.” Think about that. How many of us, like the convicted drivers, don’t care enough to exercise Godly habits or restraints, but would be embarrassed if we had to communicate that openly?
If our God, the Great Judge of the Universe, required us to display such a personal message, would our desire for the respect of others be the real reason we would not want to reveal our true spiritual condition? The way we answer that question says a lot about our sense of shame before the Lord, who always judges us accurately (I Peter 1:17). Is it possible that we fear His opinion less than the opinion of people? And then, recall Jesus’ Summary of the Law that we review in nearly every Holy Communion service: “love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all they soul and with all thy mind.” Are we there?
The good news here–we don’t have to rise to the occasion for the Lord on our own power, but can call on God the Holy Ghost to change us. And, to cinch the deal, we can expedite the process ourselves, simply making God the priority in our lives - not the afterthought - by spending time with Him and His people. After all, a life lived to God is the best bumper sticker we can display!
In your mediation time today, ask the Holy Spirit to answer this question: Do I live for God’s approval rather than man’s approval?
Grace and peace,
Chip+
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