How do you 'identify'?

Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin. (Romans 7:24-25)

It is hard to choose what we want most over what we want now, isn't it? The answer is in Jesus Christ - he has set us free. All determination or discipline in life begins with choosing how it is we 'identify'. If we identify as listening to our 'fleshly desires' just a bit too often, we are not likely to identify with our new nature in Christ Jesus as often as we should. Life isn't about behavior modification - it is about identity transformation. The power that is greater than our fleshly desires is resident within - we just need to begin to 'identify' with it more often!

We are not what we did. We are not the voice of discouragement that consistently condemns us, bringing us down. When we know who we are, we know what we need to do. We are more than a better version of ourselves. In fact, all things became new when we said 'yes' to Jesus. We are fully transformed, but do we live like we are? We belong to Jesus. He needs to become the source of our strength - the person with whom we identify most. The old man has passed away, the new one is beckoning to be set free!

We are no longer slave to our old desires. We can choose what we want most over what we want now. This is called discipline. When we walk by the Spirit who resides within, we will be less likely to give into the desires of our flesh. Our sinful nature will no longer be where we place our confidence or trust. The habitual action of faith - taking one right step after another - will bring 'disciplined transformation' within our lives. It is always a succession of steps in the right direction that brings about the 'spiritual habit' of right choices.

Those 'spiritual habits' are born out of our new identity in Christ Jesus. It might be hard to hear, but the greatest rewards in life are the ones that take the most time to develop. Where we 'come from' doesn't ever define who we are now. Remember, Christ's power within is greater than any struggle you have with your flesh. You might just need to 'identify' with your new 'identity' a little more! Just sayin!

Carrying a False ID?

Do you regularly carry some form of identification with you, especially when you leave the house? Most of us have a driver's license, passport, or identification card of some kind. Some have that information in their smartphone, while others carry a wallet full of identifying information. Is it that tiny card you carry that really identifies who you are? Is it possible to carry a bit of 'false identification' with us? Yes, there are many people who produce such 'false IDs' because there is both a demand for them and a profit to be made. It is possible we may be carrying some sort of 'false identification' with us apart from those cards that could be carried in our wallets. That 'false ID' is the one we carry along with us because we feel shame for our past - identifying with our failures and not the hope we are given in Christ Jesus.

And when you believed in Christ, he identified you as his own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago. The Spirit is God’s guarantee that he will give us the inheritance he promised and that he has purchased us to be his own people. He did this so we would praise and glorify him. (Ephesians 1:13-14)

When we believed, there was an exchange of identification - we came into a new family. We moved from the family of unbelievers into the family of believers. We took on a new image - Christ's image. We took on a new character - Christ in us, working through us, creating new desires and passions. So, why do we continue to carry around that false identification of 'sinner', 'unclean', 'impure', or 'unholy'? We are none of these things if we have said 'yes' to Jesus. We are identified as his own - we carry a new identification - the presence of the Holy Spirit within us.

When we identify with our sinful past and not with our redeemed present, we are likely doing so because of some element of shame we have internalized due to our past sinful indulgences. When we have done 'dishonorable' things, it is not uncommon to experience bad 'feelings' about our actions. Keep nursing those feelings long enough and you actually begin to identify yourself as whatever that sin is. This is shame - identifying with the sin because we regret over and over again the sinful actions we have taken. There is a lot to be said for grace, but one of the very precious things we can know about grace is that we are no longer identified with that sin.

We have been given a new ID, but we might just hold onto that 'false identification' for a while because we don't trust we will 'live up to' the new identity we have been given. The truth is that we probably won't live up to it in our own power, but that is why we were given the Holy Spirit - to help us live 'beyond' that previous identification! Just sayin!

On this Christmas morn...

It’s in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, he had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone. (Ephesians 1:11-12)

As we ponder Christmas this morning, I'd like us to answer two questions: Who are you?  What are you living for? Most of us will answer the first questions with our name, or even add a little about ourselves such as our occupation or position in life. We might even feel we have really answered this question with these "facts", but I wonder if we really realize exactly who we are? In fact, most of us really don't tell others who we are; they observe it by how we behave - how we respond to life. Our actions reveal a great deal more about our true identity than any names, titles, or declared interests ever will! The second question really gets at the root of this thought - what (or who) are we actually living for? This question may take us a little longer to answer because it requires some revelation of intention - we have to declare the "intent" behind our actions. When our actions don't match up with our intent, we might just realize some conflict between the two. As Christmas morning dawns today, could we focus on this second question a bit? Who is behind the actions you take in life? If it isn't Christ, perhaps today is a good day to change that focus!

Our identity and our purpose are indeed linked to "who" we are living for more than "what" we are living for. When our focus is on the "what", it is usually a little self-directed. "What" is kind a word which some might consider to be a little interrogative - it is used to uncover something which is not immediately evident. "What" usually refers to objects. "Who" usually refers to individuals. The object of one's life - the purpose for which we live is the most important thing we should consider today. Both our identity and our activity should be Christ and his purposes. Anything less is living far below the place God intended for us from the beginning of time. It goes against the plans he has been working out for and in us. The design God has for us, in Christ Jesus, is for glorious living. "Who" we are often is a result of a multitude of past and present activities. We are born as the child of two parents - this describes some of the "who" - it declares our lineage. When we come to Christ, we still might bear the "surname" of our human father, but we take on a new identity - we come into a different lineage. "Who" is more than just our lineage, though. It is the result of the subsequent actions in our life since birth - things like where we were raised, what we were exposed to in school, where we hung out in our spare time, and what interests we choose to pursue day by day. These "activities" all influence the "who" people see when they look at us. The more we engage in (participate fully in) the activities of our new "family", we will take on the character of this new lineage. 

If you don't believe this possible, then you only need to look as far as the family in your community who adopted a child from another country (a totally different background). As that adopted child is exposed to the "new" family, they take on the traits of that family. Little by little, they become "like" the family they are engrafted into. They don't lose their former identity totally, as they still bear the natural lineage of being born to a particular father and mother in that particular country. What they do lose is their "tie" with their past - it matters a little less to them as they experience the love and safety of their "new" family. When God takes us into his family, we don't immediately forget the "old lineage" of our past lives. What we experience is the discovery of a new way of living which is focused more on the "who" rather than the "what". The old life is focused on the "what" - "what" others did to us, "what" we did to ourselves, "what" we should have done. The new life in Christ is focused squarely on "who" - "who" we are in Christ Jesus, "who" we are becoming by his power and grace, "who" we are purposed to be from the beginning of time. So, you see, the "who" is really the question which answers the "what" in our lives this Christmas morn! Just sayin!

Jumping again?

I need explanations - how about you? When something goes awry, I want to understand why, not just that everything will be all right. I think it is because I am a 'process' person - I see the steps it takes and when a step is broken, I need to understand how the break occurred and then implement the 'fix' that will keep the step from breaking down again. There have been lots and lots of times in my life when I thought I knew what 'broke down' in the process - either in my own failure of taking the right steps, or in some other process I was involved in. I actually come to a conclusion as to the 'why' or 'how' way before I understand what was even broken! I think we might all be a little guilty of jumping to conclusions at times. We just don't possess all the facts, but somehow we think we have the whole thing figured out in our minds. We form some type of "story" in our minds we latch onto. In plain language, anytime we don't have all the information (the facts), we are jumping to conclusions which may not be well-founded and will likely lead us down some fruitless paths.

Don't jump to conclusions—there may be a perfectly good explanation for what you just saw. (Proverbs 25:8)

The stories we tell ourselves are often more important than we think - they actually form the steps we will take! An inaccurate story will only lead to inaccuracies in our actions! Learning to tell ourselves the correct story is most important, isn't it? There are many sources of "input" our brains receive each day. The very nature of each source of input lends itself to "interpretation" of the data that then gets added to the mix of other stuff we take in about the story we are being told or are telling ourselves. For example, if we rely only upon what comes in through our sense of sight, forming conclusions based on how things appear in the image we behold with only our eyes, we might miss other evidence which speaks louder like the sounds we hear! If we look in a mirror at how our body appears to us, we might point out the flaws of this dimple, extra inch of tissue here, and that scar over there. To a blind person each of these "flaws" or "points of uniqueness" adds to the "image" they form of us all without the advantage of the sense of sight - oftentimes because they have developed their other senses to aid them in forming their 'image'!

I wonder what stories our bodies tell. Many bear scars which are hidden from view and considered ugly by some. Some of us cleverly cover them with make-up, others with items of clothing, and still others with humor or sarcasm. Yet, in the privacy of the bathroom mirror, they are all visible, aren't they? When you and I behold the scars, there are memories associated with each and every one. The ones over my right knee bespeak the multiple surgeries I've undergone on that knew, the one on my neck the removal of my thyroid, and the one on my chin the falls I have experienced a couple of times that left a visible mark for life. These are not the most serious of my scars, though. In fact, it takes a different set of "eyes" to really see the scars which have impacted my life and yours! Those scars are so cleverly concealed by the stories we have told ourselves through the years....

Stories like....
No one wants a failure - all I do is fail, so what is the use of trying. I always let people down.
They didn't mean to hurt me - they just lost control. I drove them to the point of their rage. I need to try harder next time.
I've done too much wrong for anyone to ever want me. 

If I just try harder, I can succeed - I just need more willpower to overcome this.

Regardless of the story behind the scar, the truth is quite different from the story we often come to "interpret" as the reality in our lives. Take the first story - I know of one really big God who gave his all for more than just one "imperfect failure" - he gave his life so we could have a totally new identity in Christ Jesus. If we never try, we never have the opportunity to succeed - but it takes more than my own willpower to succeed - it takes me walking in that new identity I obtained at the foot of the cross. It often takes a whole lot of failures to succeed. In fact, the scar on my chin resulted from not knowing how to turn the big two-wheel Schwinn I learned to ride as a kid! Guess what? I ride a bike pretty well now! Sometimes I am wobbly a bit, but in general, I do pretty well on that bike. You and I don't realize our identity plays a huge part in how well we will reach the right conclusions in life.

In looking at the second story some tell, the real story centers not on us being who we are, but on what is being done TO us. We are NOT the cause of another's anger - the abuse of the other is NEVER our fault. In fact, scripture is plain - we each own our own sin! Control of our emotions is the responsibility of the one expressing the emotion, not the one on the receiving end of that emotion! Nothing covers over these scars of abuse, right? Maybe not in the natural sense, but in the spiritual and emotional sense, God's grace, his love, and his compassionate "putting the pieces back together" touch will! The 'no one will ever like me' story, although common to many, is really a lie we tell ourselves to cover over our fears of relationship. We have been rejected - so we reject ourselves, as well. I am so blessed to know God never came to the cross for perfect people. He came for me - a wholly imperfect person, riddled with all kinds of stuff I have done "wrong". He came for you - equally imperfect and carrying your own set of baggage! His goal is to teach us to relate to him first - to understand and fully walk in our new identity in him. In unloading the baggage of our past, he sets us up to reach out in relationship again. I am not sure how he manages to do all this, but I do stand here today confident of what he has done in my life and assure he can do it in yours, too! 

Yep, the conclusions we jump to in the moment may be telling us the wrong story! We might want to see ourselves through the mirror of God's Word - it is a much more reliable source of truth! Just sayin!

The craftsman at work

I don't know about you all, but I have projects that were begun with the best of intentions, but just never really came to the place of really being 'finished' in the timeframe I expected. It took longer than I thought, was more involved than I imagined, or just cost a little bit more than I may have realized when I began the work. Sometimes I get creative and take on the design of something - like a new raised bed or the huge project of garage organization. No real pattern to follow - I just set out with a vision in mind. The problem with these types of projects is that we seldom understand the cost, intensity, or true outcome of the project. It is actually very freeing to have an example to follow - acting as a guide by which we formulate our work and direct our effort. Even in how we choose to live our lives, we want examples - at least one. When we no longer have to "figure out" what it is that we are expected to be, how we are to live our lives, or what our next move should be, it is quite liberating. Even if we don't realize it, we have a pattern for our lives established well in advance of each new breath we breathe. God decided long before you or I breathed our first breath on this earth what our lives should be like - he shaped the very fibers of our being with the purpose of living according to his purpose. There is a plan!

29-30 God knew what he was doing from the very beginning. He decided from the outset to shape the lives of those who love him along the same lines as the life of his Son. The Son stands first in the line of humanity he restored. We see the original and intended shape of our lives there in him. After God made that decision of what his children should be like, he followed it up by calling people by name. After he called them by name, he set them on a solid basis with himself. And then, after getting them established, he stayed with them to the end, gloriously completing what he had begun.

(Romans 8:29-30)

When we really begin to grasp the reality of that statement, we can begin to live a transformed life - a patterned life.  You see, when we are no longer needing to decide the direction our life should take, we are free to pursue the purpose of one who already knows what the plan looks like!  It is also very satisfying to know that what God begins, he takes to full or total completion!  God isn't into making junk - something that serves a purpose for a time and then is discarded somewhere down the road - he finishes what he starts (unlike some of us). He is all about making works of art - things of beauty to be treasured for eternity.  God planned for us to be his kids - it was his ultimate goal that he should have us in his family. After making this plan, he sent out the invitation - our part is to accept the invitation. Once we have taken on the new "family name" (a child of God), he sets us up for all we need to walk according to his purposes. Now established on that strong foundation, we can be assured that he will complete the work of growing us up in his family. To be truthful here, there just isn't any room for us to deviate from the plan! I don't see any deviation in the plan, do you?  He does the work, we respond to the calling, he completes that which we were called to be - children of the living God.  We may fail to acknowledge his grace on occasion, even stumble and fall a little, but we are still part of his family, under his care, soon to be moving according to his plan and purpose again!

Woohoo!  We serve a good God!  Awesome in every way!  We need to celebrate the grace of God in our lives.  We need to enjoy (truly embrace) the plan of God - his working in us, making us into works of art!  An artist has an end in mind when he begins his work - it may not be evident when the first brush-stroke hits the canvas, or the first clump of clay is placed on the wheel, but he has a "vision" for the "finished-product". We sometimes get so "wigged-out" by the fact that we don't look like or act like a "finished-product" of God.  Don't lose hope!  God is still making brush strokes and tenderly shaping the clay.  Keep this one thing in mind:  He who begun a good work in you will be SURE to complete it! The plan is only the starting spot - the hand of the craftsman is what allows the plan to be worked into the finished product! Just sayin!

I didn't see that before!

The same road - the same direction - but do we see things differently along that road as we travel in the same direction? You betcha! This lesson was illustrated the other day as we were commuting home. Every other week, my BFF and I take turns driving. Some days mom is in the carpool with us as she heads off to her day club for a little socialization. When that happens, one of us sits in the back seat, allowing us to have both a higher view of the surroundings and a little less distracted view. I have observed just how many text while driving, reading emails and social media feeds, not just at the stoplight, but as they drive! My BFF observed the local nursery got a face-lift of sorts, complete with new parking lot and entrance. I mentioned to her that had been completed months ago and she looked surprised. Why? Although we had traveled the road multiple times in that same direction, that one observation had escaped her view. It is not uncommon that we travel at the same pace, in the same direction, all the while observing or taking in differing aspects of that journey - each from our own vantage point and mindset. There is nothing wrong with that - but if we don't ever share what it is we observe, others who are traveling along with us may never enjoy those discoveries for themselves!

You were all called to travel on the same road and in the same direction, so stay together, both outwardly and inwardly. You have one Master, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who rules over all, works through all, and is present in all. Everything you are and think and do is permeated with Oneness. But that doesn't mean you should all look and speak and act the same. Out of the generosity of Christ, each of us is given his own gift. (Ephesians 4:4-7 MSG)

Absolutely none of us should be idle in our walk - we should not be found sitting around on our hands doing nothing for Christ, never growing, but becoming stagnant and pretty 'stale' in our daily walk with him. Our walk should not be one of "fits and starts", with little movements here and there, but a consistent and vital walk with Christ. In the passage above, we see that we have traveling companions in our journey - all going the same direction, traveling the same road. Having that in mind, let's explore a little about some of the benefits and dangers of "walking together".

To begin with, we are traveling the same road - there is no "unique" path to God, nor is there any really "unique" path into sin - all sin is a deviation from what God has declared to be good for us. If someone ever tells you that "their" revelation of God is better than someone else's and that it is the only path you can follow, beware! If anyone tries to convince you their 'degree' of sin is much different from yours and that you can never understand where they are or have been, it just isn't true. We are moving in the same direction - not pulling against each other, derisive in our attitude, or trying to 'outdo' the other. There is more than a unity of action, but a unity of spirit that motivates that movement. This is what is referred to as both the outward and inward commitment to staying together - united in our purpose, united in our focus, united in our progress.

The church is notorious for having little groups of people here and there, some moving one direction, others moving another. We limit our effectiveness as a congregation of believers if we allow this lack of unity to exist too long. God doesn't receive glory when we are all out of step with each other - doing our own thing oblivious to the call to reach others that God has placed in our lives. The most telling part of this passage is the announcement that we don't need to be "cookie cutter" Christians - all looking alike, speaking alike, etc. We have a uniqueness of character that makes us perfect for the position we have in the community in which we live and serve. It is these unique qualities that God uses to reach out to others who "connect" with those spiritual attributes, natural talents, and life experiences that are similar to their own. It is what helps us to "bond" in the community into which we are placed - becoming a cohesive group, full of power and purpose in Christ.

For many of us, we consider our "uniqueness" as something that is "odd" or perhaps not really "worthy" of much attention. We each have a different "vantage point" that we viewed life from prior to coming to Christ - that vantage point presents us with tremendous opportunities now that we are on the pathway with other disciples learning how to live this life in Christ. So, as we journey together, we must learn to appreciate the various differences of those on this journey with us. We must not try to conform to some "mold" that another may try to impose upon us - we are free to be exactly who God has made us to be in his tremendous grace and love. I know that there is an old adage, "Variety is the spice of life." In the community into which we are placed, variety is the very thing that accomplishes the ministry God intends through the each of us - men and women of every background, reaching other men and women of similar backgrounds. So, let your "uniqueness" shine today! Just shinin!

Identity Theft

Have you ever been guilty of identity theft?  Now, don't all rush to admit it, but at one time or another in your life, I think you probably were!  You see, anytime you compare yourself to another and then evaluate whether you can "conform" to the image you see of the other is really a form of trying to commit identity theft!  If you actually pull it off, conforming to the image of another, you have done the deed.  Problem is . . . we often compare ourselves to a flawed image - making what we conform to only able to reproduce another flawed image!

God spoke: “Let us make human beings in our image, make them reflecting our nature so they can be responsible for the fish in the sea, the birds in the air, the cattle, and, yes, Earth itself, and every animal that moves on the face of Earth.”  God created human beings; he created them godlike, reflecting God’s nature.  He created them male and female.  (Genesis 1:26-28 MSG)

Anytime we try to be someone or something that another is called to be, we are engaging in this thing called identity theft.  For example, someone sings so melodically, getting accolades galore.  We want accolades, too, don't we.  So, we set out to get voice lessons, try out for the choir, and then one day we volunteer for the solo part.  How well did that work out for you?  If you are like the majority of others who pursue something for the wrong reason, you probably didn't do too well!  Why?  It was not your calling in life to be the soloist - you were made to be part of the choir!  Yet, you excel at something the soloist doesn't - your talent is unique in some manner.  You just have to discover what it is and then walk in it.

Most importantly, we have to remember we are created in God's image - first and foremost!  If we want to engage in "identity theft" we might just do well to "steal" the identity worth stealing!  What I think we have a hard time with is how we could be created in the image of God and still be so unique as human beings - each of us with different gifting and talent.  You see, we can only perceive God through our finite minds.  The many facets of his character, how those intermingle and come out uniquely in each of us just seems to baffle our minds.  We see being in the "image" of someone as being a carbon copy - but being in the image of God allows for us to be uniquely who he created us to be.  You see, when he did the creating, he put together the aspects of his character which he wanted us to uniquely display.  So, to be anything other than true to the character he put in us is to be untrue to our true identity!

The issue with admiring the image God has created in another and then trying to aspire to "fit" that image is that we put that individual in the position of being an "idol" in our lives.  As you know, God clearly speaks against this.  So, we are to follow the image of Christ we might see in another, but we are not to be envious of the "traits" or "talents" God has given that individual.  The way God made another is not the way he made us - we also display the image of Christ, just in a uniquely awesome manner.  Every one of us has a unique image of Christ - don't be afraid to display what you have been given as the "set" of character traits he puts on display through you.  Some will reveal the love of Jesus through their singing, others through their spoken word in teaching.  Others will open the doors of imagination through their creativity, connecting others to Christ's desire to "create" in their lives, as well.  Regardless of the talent, be true to it, for it is God's unique way of putting himself on display through you!

God did not create me to be you, or you to be me.  He created us to be ourselves.  Finding our true identity in Christ is only the beginning of avoiding the tendency to commit identity theft!  Just sayin!

Who determines what

Who are you?  What are you living for?  The first question may not seem all that tough to most of us.  We'd likely answer with our names, or even add a little about ourselves such as our occupation or position in life.  We might even feel we have really answered this question with these "facts", but I wonder if we really realize exactly who we are?  In fact, most of us really don't tell others who we are - they observe it by how we behave - how we respond to life.  Our actions reveal a great deal more about our true identity than any names, titles, or declared interests ever will!   The second question really gets at the root of this thought - what (or who) are we actually living for?  This question may take us a little longer to answer because it requires some revelation of intention - we have to declare the "intent" behind our actions.  When our actions don't match up with our intent, we might just realize some conflict between the two.

It’s in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, he had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone.   (Ephesians 1:11-12 MSG)

Paul puts forth the idea of our identity and our purpose being linked to "who" we are living for more than "what" we are living for.  When our focus is on the "what", it is usually a little self-directed.  "What" is kind a word which some might consider to be a little interrogative - it is used to uncover something which is not immediately evident.  "What" usually refers to objects.  "Who" usually refers to individuals.  So, the difference between the two lies not in the "uncovering" effect of the answer, but in the object of one's life.  Paul points out the "object" of our lives - both our identity and our activity - should be Christ.  Anything less is living far below the place God intended for us from the beginning of time.  It goes against the plans he has been working out for and in us.

The design God has for us, in Christ Jesus, is for glorious living.  "Who" we are often is a result of a multitude of past and present activities.  We are born as the child of two parents - this describes some of the "who" - it declares our lineage.  When we come to Christ, we still might bear the "surname" of our father, but we take on a new identity - we come into a different lineage.  "Who" is more than just our lineage, though.  It is the result of the subsequent actions in our life since birth - things like where we were raised, what we were exposed to in school, where we hung out in our spare time, etc.  These "activities" all influence the "who" people see.  For example, if I particularly like sports and find it enjoyable to hang out with others who also like the pastime, I might begin to reflect a little bit of this "sport" in my life.  I will talk the stats of the game, wear the team's colors on game day, and even pursue the rigorous preparation for the game by actually participating in some activities I might not otherwise engage in.  In time, I take on some of the "sport" in my life - I become known or identifiable as an athlete.

The same is true in our spiritual lives - the more we engage in (participate fully in) the activities of our new "family", we will take on the character of this new lineage.  If you don't believe this possible, then you only need to look as far as the family in your community who adopted a child from another country (a totally different background).  As that adopted child is exposed to the "new" family, they take on the traits of that family.  Little by little, they become "like" the family they are engrafted into.  They don't lose their former identity totally, as they still bear the natural lineage of being born to a particular father and mother in that particular country.  What they do lose is their "tie" with their past - it matters a little less to them as they experience the love and safety of their "new" family.

When God takes us into his family, we don't immediately forget the "old lineage" of our past lives.  What we experience is the discovery of a new way of living which is focused more on the "who" rather than the "what".  The old life is focused on the "what" - "what" others did to us, "what" we did to ourselves, "what" we should have done, etc.  The new life is focused squarely on "who" - "who" we are in Christ Jesus, "who" we are becoming by his power and grace, "who" we are purposed to be from the beginning of time.  So, you see, the "who" is really the question which answers the "what" in our lives!  Just sayin!

I know "of", but do I "know"?

Preconceived:  To form a perception of beforehand as a result of previously held or known information.  Some of us have a tendency to gravitate toward what we "know" about a person, forming an opinion of that person based on the small amount of facts we have.  The problem with this is the limitation in what it is we know about that individual.  We likely have some facts, but we really don't get beyond those "facts" to consider the "rest of the story" as Paul Harvey would say.  

He left there and returned to his hometown. His disciples came along. On the Sabbath, he gave a lecture in the meeting place. He made a real hit, impressing everyone. “We had no idea he was this good!” they said. “How did he get so wise all of a sudden, get such ability?”  But in the next breath they were cutting him down: “He’s just a carpenter—Mary’s boy. We’ve known him since he was a kid. We know his brothers, James, Justus, Jude, and Simon, and his sisters. Who does he think he is?” They tripped over what little they knew about him and fell, sprawling. And they never got any further.  (Mark 6:1-6 MSG)

Jesus found himself in that predicament on this day.  He returns to his hometown - the folks who should know him best.  He spends time teaching on the Sabbath - probably preaching a good sermon.  We even hear that he "made a real hit" with his friends and associates in town - impressing everyone.  Just as quickly as they were "impressed" by what they heard, they become just as "unimpressed" with him because they recount what it is they "know" about him.  The truth be told, we do the same.  We have limited knowledge of someone's past behavior, responses, or the like.  They could be changed people today, but we continue to base our "impression" of them on what it is we "know" about their past.

What does this do?  It cause us to "trip over what LITTLE we know" about the individual - never getting any further in the relationship.  The issue is not the other person - it is us.  We are the ones tripping and it is over what "little" we actually know.  We base our judgments on a fraction of the evidence.  The term "preconceive" is really made up of two roots. "Pre" speaks to us of something occurring "before" or "prior to".  "Conceive" speaks to us of "forming".  So, in essence we are "forming" opinions prior to getting the whole truth.

We sometimes do this with ourselves!  We look in the mirror, remember the old self, and forget about the many new "facets" of beauty God has already worked out in our lives.  We see what our mind tells us to see.  This is often true in our relationships with others - we see what our mind tells us we are seeing.  If we have been hurt in the past, we find it difficult to not recall the hurt today.  The part of this passage I want us to see this morning is the "little" they knew about Jesus and how this "little" caused them to not be able to get beyond that point.  They knew "of" his family.  They knew "of" his past job - a carpenter.  They knew "of" his upbringing - under Mary's watchful eye.  Yet, they really did not know Jesus - the Son of God.  

What we find when we look deeper than what we know "of" somebody's background, reputation, or past performance, might actually surprise us.  If we get beyond the "of", we might actually find ourselves face-to-face with someone who really blesses our lives.  When we focus on what know "of", we are linking what we perceive with the actual identity of the individual.  Identity is an evolving thing - we come from certain backgrounds, but we are always evolving as we are exposed to new things.  

Sure, we have the background of those things we are known for - our reputation does indeed precede us.  Yet, if we begin to allow Jesus to be our mirror instead of that shiny piece of glass in our bathroom, I wonder how differently we might just see ourselves and others.  When we allow Jesus to reflect back what he sees in us and those around us, we might just find the "little" we know "of" another is really not how that individual is today.  It would be a shame to stop at what we know "of" an individual and ourselves when what we are today is not the same as what we were then!  Just sayin!

The eyes tell it all!

There are times when an honest assessment of who we are and what we are doing is something we'd rather avoid.  Facing the fact we might not be moving in the best direction at the moment is sort of intimidating, if not downright humbling!  Yet, the beginning of any real change in our lives begins with the first step - the step we take to the mirror of God's Word!

^4-5Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that. Don't be impressed with yourself. Don't compare yourself with others. Each of you must take responsibility for doing the creative best you can with your own life.

(Galations 6:4-5 The Message)

As we examine the passage above, there is a natural progression from examining our "true identity", seeing clearly how we "fit" into the placement we have in this life, and how "committed" we are to fulfilling the mission to which we are called.  

Until we begin to understand the "truth" of our identity, we will either live way below our potential, or live with too high of an inflated impression of ourselves! First, scripture clearly defines our identity when we are without Christ - sinners (Romans 3:23).  This pretty well discourages us from living with an inflated image of our self-worth.  In fact, self-worth is really not worth much!  Just as clearly, scripture defines who we are with Christ in our lives - redeemed, holy, and new creations (2 Corinthians 5:17).  Sometimes we live far below our potential simply because we don't really understand what it entails to be a new creation in Christ!

When we are finally looking into the face of Jesus - seeing our identity in him - we begin to open up to the possibilities this newness of life produces.  The "fruit" of our lives begins to change from decaying, worthless, or destructive activities, moving toward activities which produce the evidence of the new creation we have become.  These fruits are outlined in Galations 5 - gentleness, kindness, love, joy, faithfulness - just to name a few.  As with any fruit, these changes in our character are produces through growth.  Fruit begins with a bud - faith that making the right choices will produce what is promised.  In time, the fruit we feed is what we develop!

This brings us to the point of "sinking ourselves into the work we have been given".  When we begin to take responsibility for the image we allow ourselves to behold (the image of Christ vs. our own self-image of importance), we begin to find our "fit" in life.  It is in the discovery of what God has declared "true" about us that we begin to walk free of the bondage of our past.  We behold many a false image of ourselves throughout our lives - what others declare about us, what we tell ourselves about our insignificance, etc.  Isn't it time we begin to take a fresh look into the mirror of God's face?

It is in the eyes of Jesus we behold the perfection he declares over our lives.  The depth of his love expressed in those eyes of grace speak more truth about us than any other image we could behold.  When we finally see ourselves as he does, we have no problems with being "on mission" with Jesus!  In fact, we actually begin to get excited about the possibilities Christ produces by is presence in us!  So, look deeply into his eyes of grace, my friends!  He declares you lovely, perfect, and whole!  Now, begin to reflect THAT image to the world today!