Day 22: When I Grow Up
When I Grow Up
Today in my small group, someone said, “I’ve been thinking about when I grow up….”
I love it when friends say that. It signals that we’re in a good place to learn, change, transform. It shows that we know we’re not done yet. We are only the current, 2008 model, far from the final product. Like cars, we need to have our engines tweaked, fuel efficiency increased, smoke emissions decreased, tires balanced, chips updated, batteries recharged, and owner’s manual explained…even though this will be the 300 day this year that God diagrammed how to turn the steering wheel in His direction.
Being teachable is a great quality. But the question still must be: Who are our teachers? Are there significant others whom we seek out because they know more than we know? That’s a good question to ask any follower of Jesus Christ. It is an even better, dare I say, more important question to ask leaders of followers of Jesus Christ.
As a person sometimes referred to as a leader, I believe everyone in a position of leadership should be able to answer questions like:
It is dangerous place to be without a teacher. I know for my own good and others’ sanity that I must put myself under other people’s authority. That’s “put” not “resign” myself. I need people to whom I can go with big questions, stupid questions, practical questions. I need to know that there are people out there who can and will stop me when I grab the steering wheel and won’t let go.
It’s not enough to say, Oh God keeps me in check, God is my mentor, teacher, authority; He’ll tell me if I go rogue.
It’s not a question of whether God will speak up, but whether we will we hear it, admit to it, or obey it. If we are confident that God will exercise His leadership over us, we should be confident that He can use others to speak it as well.
So much of growing into a mature believer is Obedience — doing what God says to do even if it comes from someone else. It’s never easy, though, because we often mistakenly think that growing up means exerting total, perfect control. I am learning, however, that smaller obediences done frequently over time are much more effective and far less painful than having to later own up to a major disobedience.
It’s the essence of Matthew 5:21-30
"You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.' But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, 'Raca,' is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, 'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell.
"Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.
"Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still with him on the way, or he may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. I tell you the truth, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.
"You have heard that it was said, 'Do not commit adultery.' But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.
Jesus is saying commit yourselves to the small obedience before your large disobediences get out of hand:
Put aside your anger towards your brother (small obedience) before you kill him (big disobedience).
Make your relationship right with humans (small conflict) before you try to make your relationship right with the Almighty God (big conflict).
Settle out of court (small payment) before the judge throws you into jail (your whole life and every last penny).
Look the other way before you have to tear out your eye. And if you can’t look the other way, blind yourself to temptation before temptation blinds you into damaging another person. Risk small losses before you lose everything.
As we grow, can we loose ourselves in complete obedience to God? Is it possible to willingly and unbegrudgingly say, “Yes, Lord!” It’s hard unless growing up means discovering that we can trust God with everything, even our life —just as Jesus His Son did. It’s not so hard if our relationship with God is entirely one of love. It becomes easy when we see His directions as expressions of His Love for us and when our response is purely driven by our Love for Him. A child who adores her Heavenly Father, that’s what I want to be when I grow up.
Today in my small group, someone said, “I’ve been thinking about when I grow up….”
I love it when friends say that. It signals that we’re in a good place to learn, change, transform. It shows that we know we’re not done yet. We are only the current, 2008 model, far from the final product. Like cars, we need to have our engines tweaked, fuel efficiency increased, smoke emissions decreased, tires balanced, chips updated, batteries recharged, and owner’s manual explained…even though this will be the 300 day this year that God diagrammed how to turn the steering wheel in His direction.
Being teachable is a great quality. But the question still must be: Who are our teachers? Are there significant others whom we seek out because they know more than we know? That’s a good question to ask any follower of Jesus Christ. It is an even better, dare I say, more important question to ask leaders of followers of Jesus Christ.
As a person sometimes referred to as a leader, I believe everyone in a position of leadership should be able to answer questions like:
- Who are your mentors whom you seek out for counsel?
- Who are your teachers that help you acquire, understand and apply new knowledge?
- Who keeps you accountable—professionally, personally, and spiritually?
- Who can say “no” to you, and whose “no” will you accept?
It is dangerous place to be without a teacher. I know for my own good and others’ sanity that I must put myself under other people’s authority. That’s “put” not “resign” myself. I need people to whom I can go with big questions, stupid questions, practical questions. I need to know that there are people out there who can and will stop me when I grab the steering wheel and won’t let go.
It’s not enough to say, Oh God keeps me in check, God is my mentor, teacher, authority; He’ll tell me if I go rogue.
It’s not a question of whether God will speak up, but whether we will we hear it, admit to it, or obey it. If we are confident that God will exercise His leadership over us, we should be confident that He can use others to speak it as well.
So much of growing into a mature believer is Obedience — doing what God says to do even if it comes from someone else. It’s never easy, though, because we often mistakenly think that growing up means exerting total, perfect control. I am learning, however, that smaller obediences done frequently over time are much more effective and far less painful than having to later own up to a major disobedience.
It’s the essence of Matthew 5:21-30
"You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.' But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, 'Raca,' is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, 'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell.
"Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.
"Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still with him on the way, or he may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. I tell you the truth, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.
"You have heard that it was said, 'Do not commit adultery.' But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.
Jesus is saying commit yourselves to the small obedience before your large disobediences get out of hand:
Put aside your anger towards your brother (small obedience) before you kill him (big disobedience).
Make your relationship right with humans (small conflict) before you try to make your relationship right with the Almighty God (big conflict).
Settle out of court (small payment) before the judge throws you into jail (your whole life and every last penny).
Look the other way before you have to tear out your eye. And if you can’t look the other way, blind yourself to temptation before temptation blinds you into damaging another person. Risk small losses before you lose everything.
As we grow, can we loose ourselves in complete obedience to God? Is it possible to willingly and unbegrudgingly say, “Yes, Lord!” It’s hard unless growing up means discovering that we can trust God with everything, even our life —just as Jesus His Son did. It’s not so hard if our relationship with God is entirely one of love. It becomes easy when we see His directions as expressions of His Love for us and when our response is purely driven by our Love for Him. A child who adores her Heavenly Father, that’s what I want to be when I grow up.
posted by Pam Chun at 1:22 AM
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