Most of us have people in our relationship world that are pretty easy to love. We enjoy spending time with them and they enjoy our company. We are rewarded emotionally when we serving them. We often think like them and have similar values. It doesn’t take much to love them. There is very little emotional displacement in our lives. If every connection in our relationship world were this kind of connection life would be less stressful. Convenient would describe these relationships.
On the other hand, we all have people in our relationship world that are more difficult to love. Spending time in these relationships is draining. Serving them takes an emotional toll on us. They make think different than us. They may have different values. Loving in these connects displaces huge amounts of emotion. The love needed in these relationships could be described as inconvenient.
Jesus talked about convenient and inconvenient love.
If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. Matthew 5:46-48 (NIV)
Jesus’ idea of being perfect is not what most of us think. Being perfect is often thought of as ‘moral’ perfection. Living an upright life is important. Living an upright life is desirable. Being perfect though is about loving when it is inconvenient to love. Jesus said that loving only when it is convenient ultimately has no reward.
Truly loving happens when we allow the emotional displacement and allow our lives to be inconvenienced for the benefit and welfare of others. Truly loving is when time is displaced, money is displaced, and emotions are displaced.
Love is really only love, not when it is convenient, but when it is inconvenient.
Friday, May 27, 2011
Friday, May 20, 2011
What Kind of Shadow does Your Character Cast?
If you follow the news even a little bit you are aware that this week has given us a semester’s worth of lessons on what it looks like to be lacking in CHARACTER.
• The head of the International Monetary Fund, and the man likely to have become the next President of France, was arrested for inappropriate actions towards a hotel worker.
• Former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger revealed a child that was born to a domestic worker over a decade ago. His marriage is over.
• For $200 a British woman lied about having injected her 8 year old daughter with Botox. The story made international news.
• 2004 Olympic Gold Medal cyclist, Tyler Hamilton, returned his Gold Medal, having admitted that he had been using performance enhancing drugs.
It is easy to pick out character deficiencies in others – but what about in my own life? Seeing, or not seeing, character deficiencies in my own life is like looking at my own hairdo in the mirror. At best I only partially know what my hairdo looks like. I only see a portion of my hairdo unless I use two or three mirrors – I can’t see it all. The front of my hair can be pristine while the back of my head looks like it was hit by a storm.
‘Character’ is very similar. The temptation is to look as good as we can to people. From the front the character looks good. From the side things don’t look so good. From the back the response is “Wow!” “I didn’t see that coming!”
The US Air Force defines character a, "Qualities of moral excellence which compel a person to do the right things despite pressure or temptations to the contrary."
Character is described as a ‘complex mix of attributes that make-up and determine a person’s moral and ethical actions and reactions.’
President Abraham Lincoln said character is the tree and reputation is the shadow.
What does your character really look like? What kind of shadow does your character cast?
Jesus, develop the righteous character produced by Jesus Christ! (Philippians 1:11)
• The head of the International Monetary Fund, and the man likely to have become the next President of France, was arrested for inappropriate actions towards a hotel worker.
• Former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger revealed a child that was born to a domestic worker over a decade ago. His marriage is over.
• For $200 a British woman lied about having injected her 8 year old daughter with Botox. The story made international news.
• 2004 Olympic Gold Medal cyclist, Tyler Hamilton, returned his Gold Medal, having admitted that he had been using performance enhancing drugs.
It is easy to pick out character deficiencies in others – but what about in my own life? Seeing, or not seeing, character deficiencies in my own life is like looking at my own hairdo in the mirror. At best I only partially know what my hairdo looks like. I only see a portion of my hairdo unless I use two or three mirrors – I can’t see it all. The front of my hair can be pristine while the back of my head looks like it was hit by a storm.
‘Character’ is very similar. The temptation is to look as good as we can to people. From the front the character looks good. From the side things don’t look so good. From the back the response is “Wow!” “I didn’t see that coming!”
The US Air Force defines character a, "Qualities of moral excellence which compel a person to do the right things despite pressure or temptations to the contrary."
Character is described as a ‘complex mix of attributes that make-up and determine a person’s moral and ethical actions and reactions.’
President Abraham Lincoln said character is the tree and reputation is the shadow.
What does your character really look like? What kind of shadow does your character cast?
Jesus, develop the righteous character produced by Jesus Christ! (Philippians 1:11)
Sunday, May 15, 2011
The Lions are Hunting
I have been in a number of conversations over the last few weeks where the discussion has been about the craziness of the world we are living in.
The pressures that people are feeling right now from the world situation, the national situation and the economic situation are significant and are taking their toll on people.
I wish that was all that was happening though! It is not.
•Parents are struggling with the pressures their children are under.
•Married couples are struggling to keep their relationships together and growing.
•Pornography is damaging men and women, married and single, young and old.
•Singles are struggling with loneliness and the pressures of a promiscuous culture.
Everything that is happening reminds me of a verse written by the Apostle Peter:
Control yourselves. Be on your guard. Your enemy the devil is like a roaring lion. He prowls around looking for someone to chew up and swallow. (1 Peter 5:8 NIrV)
It is interesting that Peter uses a lion as a picture of the attacker. Lions are great hunters. There are some interesting facts that make the picture of a lion especially apropos to the struggles of life.
Lions are not the fastest of animals. They are actually slower than most of the prey they eat. They are sneaky though. They will sneak up on a ‘wildebeest’ and then pounce in a final burst of speed. They are also experts at waiting until the prey needs something like water or shade and then hunting them in their moment of need. They also rely on the forgetfulness of the prey. It is not unusual for a herd of ‘gazelle’ to be chased and one to be caught and eaten while the rest of the herd goes back to business as usual. Within a short time the whole episode starts again as if the herd of ‘gazelle’ were taken by surprise. Lions also hunt in a group. The prey gets distracted by one lion, only to be caught by another.
Control yourselves. Be on your guard. Don’t be snuck up on. Be ready when you have a need. Don’t forget how the enemy works – he’s relying on a person’s forgetfulness! Be on your guard when the lion is trying to get you in one area another lion might strike!
The pressures that people are feeling right now from the world situation, the national situation and the economic situation are significant and are taking their toll on people.
I wish that was all that was happening though! It is not.
•Parents are struggling with the pressures their children are under.
•Married couples are struggling to keep their relationships together and growing.
•Pornography is damaging men and women, married and single, young and old.
•Singles are struggling with loneliness and the pressures of a promiscuous culture.
Everything that is happening reminds me of a verse written by the Apostle Peter:
Control yourselves. Be on your guard. Your enemy the devil is like a roaring lion. He prowls around looking for someone to chew up and swallow. (1 Peter 5:8 NIrV)
It is interesting that Peter uses a lion as a picture of the attacker. Lions are great hunters. There are some interesting facts that make the picture of a lion especially apropos to the struggles of life.
Lions are not the fastest of animals. They are actually slower than most of the prey they eat. They are sneaky though. They will sneak up on a ‘wildebeest’ and then pounce in a final burst of speed. They are also experts at waiting until the prey needs something like water or shade and then hunting them in their moment of need. They also rely on the forgetfulness of the prey. It is not unusual for a herd of ‘gazelle’ to be chased and one to be caught and eaten while the rest of the herd goes back to business as usual. Within a short time the whole episode starts again as if the herd of ‘gazelle’ were taken by surprise. Lions also hunt in a group. The prey gets distracted by one lion, only to be caught by another.
Control yourselves. Be on your guard. Don’t be snuck up on. Be ready when you have a need. Don’t forget how the enemy works – he’s relying on a person’s forgetfulness! Be on your guard when the lion is trying to get you in one area another lion might strike!
Friday, May 6, 2011
Don’t Wait – Start the Change Today!
Just recently I heard someone say that people change for three reasons:
1. When they hurt enough that they have to change something.
2. When they learn enough that they want to change something.
3. When they receive enough that they are able to change something.
Why? Why does it have to be that way?
It is unfortunate that we humans find it so hard to break out of habits and patterns that keep us stuck where we are. It would be best if, when we hurt a little, we would change. It would be best if, when we learn a little, we would change. It would be best if, when we receive a little, we would change. Unfortunately that is not the way it is.
We are slow to change and often require lots of hurt before even attempting to change. John Maxwell says it this way: “People change when the pain of staying the same is greater than the pain of changing.” Couldn’t we change a little quicker?
My encouragement to you would be to start today. Don’t wait for more pain. Don’t wait for more learning. Don’t wait until you think that you have enough to be able to change. Start the change now.
Pray for change. Pray some more for change. Pray for you to change. Pray for wisdom to change. Pray for the strength to change. Pray for the courage to change. Make a plan.
Don’t wait for more pain. Don’t wait for more learning. Don’t wait for more tools. Start today!
1. When they hurt enough that they have to change something.
2. When they learn enough that they want to change something.
3. When they receive enough that they are able to change something.
Why? Why does it have to be that way?
It is unfortunate that we humans find it so hard to break out of habits and patterns that keep us stuck where we are. It would be best if, when we hurt a little, we would change. It would be best if, when we learn a little, we would change. It would be best if, when we receive a little, we would change. Unfortunately that is not the way it is.
We are slow to change and often require lots of hurt before even attempting to change. John Maxwell says it this way: “People change when the pain of staying the same is greater than the pain of changing.” Couldn’t we change a little quicker?
My encouragement to you would be to start today. Don’t wait for more pain. Don’t wait for more learning. Don’t wait until you think that you have enough to be able to change. Start the change now.
Pray for change. Pray some more for change. Pray for you to change. Pray for wisdom to change. Pray for the strength to change. Pray for the courage to change. Make a plan.
Don’t wait for more pain. Don’t wait for more learning. Don’t wait for more tools. Start today!
Thursday, April 28, 2011
The Resurrection is more than a story... Part 3 of 3
What was the resurrected Jesus like? Jesus’ resurrection body had “flesh and bones.” He was not a ghost. The disciples were able to recognize Him and to touch Him. He spoke with them.
But could they all have been having a group hallucination? No, because the disciples were not the only ones who saw and touched Jesus. Paul makes a long list of people who claimed to have seen the risen Christ personally, and notes that “most of them are still living” (1 Corinthians 15:6).
Moreover, there has to be some explanation for how the cowardly group of disciples was transformed into a group of leaders. Many of them went on to live sacrificial lives, and were killed for teaching that Jesus had been resurrected.
Jesus had risen, just as He told them He would. After a criminal does his time in jail and fully satisfies the sentence, the law no longer has a claim on the criminal, he walks out of jail free.
Jesus Christ came to pay the penalty for our sins. The sentence upon him was an infinite sentence because of the infinite nature of man’s sin. He must have satisfied the sentence fully because on Easter Sunday He walked out of prison free. The resurrection was God’s way of stamping PAID IN FULL right across history so that nobody could miss it. The sentence was fulfilled. The penalty was paid. ------- Adapted from: King's Cross by Timothy Keller © 2011.
But could they all have been having a group hallucination? No, because the disciples were not the only ones who saw and touched Jesus. Paul makes a long list of people who claimed to have seen the risen Christ personally, and notes that “most of them are still living” (1 Corinthians 15:6).
Moreover, there has to be some explanation for how the cowardly group of disciples was transformed into a group of leaders. Many of them went on to live sacrificial lives, and were killed for teaching that Jesus had been resurrected.
Jesus had risen, just as He told them He would. After a criminal does his time in jail and fully satisfies the sentence, the law no longer has a claim on the criminal, he walks out of jail free.
Jesus Christ came to pay the penalty for our sins. The sentence upon him was an infinite sentence because of the infinite nature of man’s sin. He must have satisfied the sentence fully because on Easter Sunday He walked out of prison free. The resurrection was God’s way of stamping PAID IN FULL right across history so that nobody could miss it. The sentence was fulfilled. The penalty was paid. ------- Adapted from: King's Cross by Timothy Keller © 2011.
Thursday, April 21, 2011
The Resurrection is more than a story... Part 2 of 3
The resurrection was inconceivable for the first disciples. It was as impossible for them to believe, as it is for many of us today. Granted, their reasons would have been different from ours. The Greeks did not believe in resurrection. In the Greek worldview, the afterlife was liberation of the soul from the body. According to the Greek worldview the resurrection would never be part of life after death.
As for the Jews, some of them believed in a future general resurrection when the entire world would be renewed, but they had no concept of an individual rising from the dead. The people of Jesus’ day were not predisposed to believe in resurrection any more than we are.
Celsus, a Greek philosopher who lived in the second century A.D., was highly antagonistic to Christianity and wrote a number of works listing arguments against it. One of the arguments he believed most telling went like this: Christianity can’t be true, because the written accounts of the resurrection are based on the testimony of women—and we all know women are hysterical. Many of Celsus’ readers agreed; for them, the fact that the witnesses were women was a major problem. In ancient societies women were marginalized, and the testimony of women was never given legal credence.
Do you see what that means? If Mark and the Christians were making up these stories to get their movement off the ground, they would never have written women into the story as the first eyewitnesses to Jesus’ empty tomb. The only possible reason for the presence of women in these accounts is that they really were present and reported what they saw. The stone has been rolled away, the tomb is empty and an angel declares that Jesus is risen. ----- Adapted from: King's Cross by Timothy Keller © 2011. To be continued next week.
As for the Jews, some of them believed in a future general resurrection when the entire world would be renewed, but they had no concept of an individual rising from the dead. The people of Jesus’ day were not predisposed to believe in resurrection any more than we are.
Celsus, a Greek philosopher who lived in the second century A.D., was highly antagonistic to Christianity and wrote a number of works listing arguments against it. One of the arguments he believed most telling went like this: Christianity can’t be true, because the written accounts of the resurrection are based on the testimony of women—and we all know women are hysterical. Many of Celsus’ readers agreed; for them, the fact that the witnesses were women was a major problem. In ancient societies women were marginalized, and the testimony of women was never given legal credence.
Do you see what that means? If Mark and the Christians were making up these stories to get their movement off the ground, they would never have written women into the story as the first eyewitnesses to Jesus’ empty tomb. The only possible reason for the presence of women in these accounts is that they really were present and reported what they saw. The stone has been rolled away, the tomb is empty and an angel declares that Jesus is risen. ----- Adapted from: King's Cross by Timothy Keller © 2011. To be continued next week.
The Resurrection is more than a story...Part 1 of 3
In the decades before and after Jesus’ life and death, there were dozens of ‘messianic’ movements in Israel. In almost every case the ‘messianic leader’ was killed, in many cases by execution, and after the leader’s death each of these movements invariably collapsed. Everybody went home, and that was it. Of the dozens of move-ments, only one did not collapse after the death of the leader. Not only did the movement not collapse, it exploded—in the course of about 300 years it had spread through the entire Roman Empire.
Of all the messianic movements, what made the Christian faith different? What happened to cause explosive growth in Christianity after its founder’s death?
Jesus died in mid-afternoon and the Sabbath began at sunset. The Jewish law permitted no work on the Sabbath, which meant they could not bury the body of Jesus that night or the next day. So Joseph of Arimathea visits Pilate, hoping to be able to bury the body before the Sabbath begins. Joseph, though a Pharisee, shows enormous courage and independence of thought by asking for Jesus’ body. Mark reports:
“Pilate was surprised to hear that he was already dead. Summoning the centurion, he asked him if Jesus had already died. When he learned from the centurion that it was so, he gave the body to Joseph. So Joseph bought some linen cloth, took down the body, wrapped it in the linen, and placed it in a tomb cut out of rock. Then he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb. Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joseph saw where he was laid.” (Mark 15:44–47)
The way Mark reports the burial is significant: He is “certifying” that Jesus was really dead. Joseph of Arimathea is named here as an identified witness who actually had Jesus’ body wrapped up and sealed it in a tomb. A Roman centurion (who would be an expert) bore witness of Jesus’ death to Pilate (who would be the legal authority on the matter). Finally, two women are cited as eyewitnesses to the burial. So multiple experts and witnesses prove He was really dead. ----- Adapted from: King's Cross by Timothy Keller © 2011. To be continued next week.
Of all the messianic movements, what made the Christian faith different? What happened to cause explosive growth in Christianity after its founder’s death?
Jesus died in mid-afternoon and the Sabbath began at sunset. The Jewish law permitted no work on the Sabbath, which meant they could not bury the body of Jesus that night or the next day. So Joseph of Arimathea visits Pilate, hoping to be able to bury the body before the Sabbath begins. Joseph, though a Pharisee, shows enormous courage and independence of thought by asking for Jesus’ body. Mark reports:
“Pilate was surprised to hear that he was already dead. Summoning the centurion, he asked him if Jesus had already died. When he learned from the centurion that it was so, he gave the body to Joseph. So Joseph bought some linen cloth, took down the body, wrapped it in the linen, and placed it in a tomb cut out of rock. Then he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb. Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joseph saw where he was laid.” (Mark 15:44–47)
The way Mark reports the burial is significant: He is “certifying” that Jesus was really dead. Joseph of Arimathea is named here as an identified witness who actually had Jesus’ body wrapped up and sealed it in a tomb. A Roman centurion (who would be an expert) bore witness of Jesus’ death to Pilate (who would be the legal authority on the matter). Finally, two women are cited as eyewitnesses to the burial. So multiple experts and witnesses prove He was really dead. ----- Adapted from: King's Cross by Timothy Keller © 2011. To be continued next week.
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Easter is Two Weeks Away!
I hope that you have been praying and inviting people to join you for our Easter Gatherings. We will have two gatherings at 8:30 and 10:30. Plan to bring family, friends and co-workers with you. There are invitations available in the foyers for you to use. Take as many as you need, as many as you can use! The people in your circle are open at Easter to attending an Easter Celebration so …. Invite them!
Easter is unlike any other event in the year because Easter is the celebration of the One who is unlike any other!
Easter is the culmination of 1000’s of years of God’s toil to arrange for the homecoming of the human race. God was working, around the clock and around the calendar, to return people into a loving relationship with Him.
He sent prophets, kings, leaders and teachers to guide people towards a faith relationship with Him. His hard work accomplished very little. He sent His Son, Jesus Christ - Immanuel – God with us – to live on this earth. Jesus lived a sinless life – the only one to ever do so. Jesus, the only one to have lived an innocent life died a criminal’s death on the cross. Jesus was buried in a borrowed grave and three days later He rose from the dead. Death could not keep Him down. He appeared to the women, the disciples and then to a group of 500 people at one time.
The resurrection of Jesus is what makes Christianity different then every other philosophy or religion. Jesus is the only teacher, the only prophet, the only miracle worker, the only Rabbi … who ever rose from the dead! Buddhism, Taoism, Hinduism, Judaism, Islam, Scientology, Confucianism, Mormonism … you name it – the leader, the prophet, the founder, the seer, the teacher, the Rabbis – they are all dead.
In all of history, Jesus alone, rose from the dead, ascended into heaven and is alive today. His resurrection is unlike any other event in history. He is alive! He is alive forever more!
These facts make Easter the greatest day in the calendar. There is no other day that compares.
Pray for those who will be here and invite others to join you!
Easter is unlike any other event in the year because Easter is the celebration of the One who is unlike any other!
Easter is the culmination of 1000’s of years of God’s toil to arrange for the homecoming of the human race. God was working, around the clock and around the calendar, to return people into a loving relationship with Him.
He sent prophets, kings, leaders and teachers to guide people towards a faith relationship with Him. His hard work accomplished very little. He sent His Son, Jesus Christ - Immanuel – God with us – to live on this earth. Jesus lived a sinless life – the only one to ever do so. Jesus, the only one to have lived an innocent life died a criminal’s death on the cross. Jesus was buried in a borrowed grave and three days later He rose from the dead. Death could not keep Him down. He appeared to the women, the disciples and then to a group of 500 people at one time.
The resurrection of Jesus is what makes Christianity different then every other philosophy or religion. Jesus is the only teacher, the only prophet, the only miracle worker, the only Rabbi … who ever rose from the dead! Buddhism, Taoism, Hinduism, Judaism, Islam, Scientology, Confucianism, Mormonism … you name it – the leader, the prophet, the founder, the seer, the teacher, the Rabbis – they are all dead.
In all of history, Jesus alone, rose from the dead, ascended into heaven and is alive today. His resurrection is unlike any other event in history. He is alive! He is alive forever more!
These facts make Easter the greatest day in the calendar. There is no other day that compares.
Pray for those who will be here and invite others to join you!
Thursday, March 31, 2011
He is at work!
God is at work changing lives. At times His work is very obvious. There are other times when His work is not so obvious. There are seasons when the life changing work of God is easily seen. There are other seasons when that life changing work seems so hard to see. It can be so hard to see the work of God that people begin to believe that His work is not happening.
The Apostle Paul wrote about the life changing work of God to the believers in the city of Philippi. He was trying to encourage them. He wrote:
I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue His work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. (Philippians 1:6 NLT) He was trying to encourage people, who were going through a season where the work of God wasn’t so apparent.
It is interesting that Paul writes these words of encouragement, to the followers in Philippi, while he is in chains for being a follower of Jesus. (Philippians 1:7, 13-14, 17) Paul is in chains – chains – did you catch that? CHAINS. Paul is under lock and key. Even while locked up - Paul writes about God, who began a good work, continuing to work in discouraging circumstances.
Paul is attempting to do is encourage discouraged believers. The words have a similar tune to the words of David in Psalm 23.
Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for You are close beside me. Your rod and Your staff protect and comfort me. (Psalms 23:4 NLT)
Are you going through a rough patch? A rough patch relationally? A rough patch financially? A rough patch in your health? A rough patch at work? Be encouraged! God is at work!
And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them. (Romans 8:28 NLT)
The Apostle Paul wrote about the life changing work of God to the believers in the city of Philippi. He was trying to encourage them. He wrote:
I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue His work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. (Philippians 1:6 NLT) He was trying to encourage people, who were going through a season where the work of God wasn’t so apparent.
It is interesting that Paul writes these words of encouragement, to the followers in Philippi, while he is in chains for being a follower of Jesus. (Philippians 1:7, 13-14, 17) Paul is in chains – chains – did you catch that? CHAINS. Paul is under lock and key. Even while locked up - Paul writes about God, who began a good work, continuing to work in discouraging circumstances.
Paul is attempting to do is encourage discouraged believers. The words have a similar tune to the words of David in Psalm 23.
Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for You are close beside me. Your rod and Your staff protect and comfort me. (Psalms 23:4 NLT)
Are you going through a rough patch? A rough patch relationally? A rough patch financially? A rough patch in your health? A rough patch at work? Be encouraged! God is at work!
And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them. (Romans 8:28 NLT)
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Playing Dress-Up
Playing ‘Dress-up’
An activity that is common to almost every person growing up is pretending to be someone. Children ‘dress-up’ to be movie stars, athletes, musicians, doctors, nurses, policeman, firemen, soldiers, teachers, husband or wife. It would be hard to find someone who hasn’t ‘pretended’ to be someone that they admire.
The proliferation of the internet has taken pretending and has lifted ‘dress-up’ to a whole new level. People are now able to be almost anyone they want to be in a ‘virtual’ life. The news regularly reports on people who spend more time living out their ‘virtual’ life than they do their real life. In the virtual world I can be younger/older, taller/shorter, lighter/heavier, and richer or have more achievements. I can have the personality that I wish I really had. I can remove the ‘warts’ that are so apparent to people in the ‘real’ world. Whatever I would like to be – I can be – in the virtual world.
Down through the centuries - ‘Dress-up’ has been the activity of not only children but of adults too. Adults regularly ‘dress-up’ to impress people. ‘Dress-up’ happens literally. ‘Dress-up’ happens figuratively.
Some who are poor pretend to be rich; others who are rich pretend to be poor. (Proverbs 13:7 NLT)
People may cover their hatred with pleasant words, but they're deceiving you. They pretend to be kind, but don't believe them. Their hearts are full of many evils.
(Proverbs 26:24-25 NLT)
One of the clear teachings from Jesus and from the first days of the life of the church is that God really hates ‘Dress-up.’ He never approves of people pretending to be something of someone other than who they really are.
Jesus said it this way: On judgment day many will say to Me, 'Lord! Lord! We prophesied in Your name and cast out demons in Your name and performed many miracles in Your name.' But I will reply, 'I never knew you. Get away from Me, you who break God's laws.' (Matthew 7:22-23 NLT)
These are strong words to people who ‘Dress-up’ – people who ‘Dress-up’ as miracle workers no less!
Get Real!
An activity that is common to almost every person growing up is pretending to be someone. Children ‘dress-up’ to be movie stars, athletes, musicians, doctors, nurses, policeman, firemen, soldiers, teachers, husband or wife. It would be hard to find someone who hasn’t ‘pretended’ to be someone that they admire.
The proliferation of the internet has taken pretending and has lifted ‘dress-up’ to a whole new level. People are now able to be almost anyone they want to be in a ‘virtual’ life. The news regularly reports on people who spend more time living out their ‘virtual’ life than they do their real life. In the virtual world I can be younger/older, taller/shorter, lighter/heavier, and richer or have more achievements. I can have the personality that I wish I really had. I can remove the ‘warts’ that are so apparent to people in the ‘real’ world. Whatever I would like to be – I can be – in the virtual world.
Down through the centuries - ‘Dress-up’ has been the activity of not only children but of adults too. Adults regularly ‘dress-up’ to impress people. ‘Dress-up’ happens literally. ‘Dress-up’ happens figuratively.
Some who are poor pretend to be rich; others who are rich pretend to be poor. (Proverbs 13:7 NLT)
People may cover their hatred with pleasant words, but they're deceiving you. They pretend to be kind, but don't believe them. Their hearts are full of many evils.
(Proverbs 26:24-25 NLT)
One of the clear teachings from Jesus and from the first days of the life of the church is that God really hates ‘Dress-up.’ He never approves of people pretending to be something of someone other than who they really are.
Jesus said it this way: On judgment day many will say to Me, 'Lord! Lord! We prophesied in Your name and cast out demons in Your name and performed many miracles in Your name.' But I will reply, 'I never knew you. Get away from Me, you who break God's laws.' (Matthew 7:22-23 NLT)
These are strong words to people who ‘Dress-up’ – people who ‘Dress-up’ as miracle workers no less!
Get Real!
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