Month: April 2019

We live in a culture that is all about self-promotion and being louder and larger. It’s almost as if the more attention you can draw towards yourself, the better you are by some invisible yet widely regarded ranking system. This is reflected in our obsession with social media likes, famous figures, and conformity to popular ideas and trends. We are seeking to be noticed and seen. We want to be different, special, and set apart, and at the same time we want everyone to like us.

Tozer, in his book God’s Pursuit of Man, postulates that one of the main roots of pride (self) is the need for social approval. The desire for the applause of man, rather than the approval of God.

This need for approval is misplaced. We are created to noticed, but not by the world. The world will never be able to satisfy our deep longings for approval; we are chasing dust. Even if we do receive recognition and praise from man, it will not last forever, and once again we will have to strive and strain to earn it for a fleeting moment again. It’s a never-ending game that leads to exhaustion and stress. It is not worth it.

There is One who has approved of us from the beginning, and we do not even realize that He is the only One whose approval means anything at all. What we are seeking from men can actually only be found in Christ, who knows the depths of our souls and our hearts, and sees us more than we would ever care to be seen. He is the One we can seek to please, and should seek to please, all of our days–because He is already pleased. We don’t have to try to earn His attention or His love; it is freely given. Our efforts to please Him blossom out of the knowledge that He is already delighted with us. It is the cycle of Life, and leads to the fruits of Heaven.

Friends, we are noticed. We are seen. We can stop trying to impress the world.

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Colossians 3:17

As we once again come upon Easter Sunday, the day we commemorate Christ’s resurrection and power over death itself, I am so grateful for all He has done for me.

I am a grossly under-qualified person in every way. I’m not just talking about the qualifications the world cares about- degrees, experience, and education- I am talking about how I am under-qualified to be a human being. How compared to who He is, I am absolutely nothing, and no possible degree or skill could ever qualify me before the Almighty God. It is silly to even think I could stand a chance. That any of us could.

And yet He did the unthinkable- He came down to earth as one of us to qualify us. He took all of the ways we have messed up on Himself, and bore the burden of our mistakes. He lived a completely qualified life before His father.

And now, we who have no credentials whatsoever are welcome to His table:

I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

Luke 5:32

That’s what the cross was all about.

I had the privilege of attending a Writer’s Conference last weekend (which I of course felt unqualified to be a part of) and one of the keynote speakers shared his own journey of how God used his messy past and imperfect life to bring light to so many through his humor and books. It was so encouraging to listen to someone so successful speak with such humility and grace. He gave God all the glory and all the credit for his achievements, knowing that the ultimate achievements were the ones that pointed people to Christ.

God is not interested in our titles, knowledge, or qualities that draw attention from the world. He is interested in our hearts, and all the other stuff is filthy rags to Him. He uses us where we allow Him into our weakness; we are more often hindered by our so-called “strengths.”

Before God we all fall short; yet because of Him we are qualified to be citizens of Heaven. Praise God!