We have had a burden on our hearts to share this message, and it is not an easy one. It is not about fashion or fun, but it is serious and heart wrenching. We sat on this post for a few weeks and then we found we could not sit on it anymore and as we wrote we just felt like God had something to say, and we let him say it. So we wrote a hard thing, but we did it in love, knowing that sometimes God calls us to the hard things and in the hard things, we often find his heart.
~*~
When looking to find the center of the universe, God is not looking to find you or I.
Lesser orbs are what we are. We are valued. Loved deeply and greatly. But central. Essential. Critical. Hardly. Sorry guys, the world doesn't revolve around us.
This feeling is everywhere in this world today. We see it on TV, on T-shirts, online and on billboards. "It is all about ME" or "Taking care of number 1". We hear it on the radio, maybe sing along mindlessly to lyrics until one day we catch ourselves, (or, at least, I hope we do) and listen. Is it REALLY all about us? Is it? And if it is, should it be?
There is all of this buzz about Miley and what she did at the awards ceremony and you know, my heart breaks for her. I am so sad that most of her life she was led to believe it was all about her and that she was the center of the universe. What a tragic thing that no one loved her enough to tell her the truth before it got to this point.
We start so early, with small children, with toddlers and we throw around the word "Diva". We say oh she is such a little diva. We see it sprawled across the rear end of bedazzled sweat pants and on pillow cases and framed prints for little girls and teenager's rooms. Girls and women alike wear the title with pride. Mom's call their daughters diva with their chest spread wide as if they just found some cure for an incurable disease. Should we be proud?
Life is not about getting my way, my will, my desires. People like to believe that Gods there just to make them happy. Like a Genie or a giant vending machine to fulfill our every whim.
But that doesn't make sense. Because if God's exists, simply to please us. Then, shouldn't we always be pleased?
Like the moon in the sky is not the center of our universe neither am I. When I think that I am the center of the universe, much like that "diva" toddler on TV (or at the store for that matter), I am fooled. I am not the center of all, but I am tricked because in truth I am only spoiled and selfish. Ouch! Right?
- John 13:34-35 NIV A new command I give you; Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this, everyone will know you are my disciples if you love one another.
- Phillippians 2:1-4 If therefore, there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind let each of you regard one another as more important than himself; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.
In our universe, the sun is the center. It provides it's light to the solar system and the moon is nothing at all on its own. God doesn't exist to make a big deal out of us. We exist to make a big deal out of HIM. We are like the moon. And God is like the Sun. Apart from the sun, the moon is nothing more than a big, black rock. but with the Sun, it shines.
God gives us gifts
- James 1:17 (EXB) Every good ·action [or act of giving] and every perfect gift ·is from God comes from above. These good gifts come down from the ·Creator of the sun, moon, and stars [L the father of lights; C referring to God’s creation of the heavenly bodies who does not change like their shifting shadows.
He gives us talents, and wonderful blessings, but they are His, and before we get a large head about how great we are and how beautiful we are, how talented we are and start thanking "the little people" that worship us we need to step back. See when you understand that my great brain, my pretty face, my talent for singing, or dancing, painting or surfing, what ever it is, is not to bring us glory. They are a gift. A gift we can in no way earn. But they are a part of that "light" that when used right can and should give glory to God. When we realize that although we may hone our gifts that they are just that, a gift. That the loving God who created everything loves you so very much, that He stepped down to put on flesh and blood mortality so that He could pay a price that no one else could pay for our bad attitudes and bad actions, for our sin. So he could die for us. For every disrespectful or lustful thought, for every lie, for those times we took what didn't belong to us or every time we took his name in vain. He took it all so we could be together, forever restored. Not here on this earth but in a place of perfection, a place of no more death, illness, no more tears. It makes us trying to act like we are #1 a little lame when you think of it.
How could changing our attitudes about ourselves and others around us and frankly our attitude about God change the relationships around us? How could your family change if we started understanding and putting into practice reflecting the love of God? Instead of demanding our way seek God's way? How would it change if we put others first? How would our friendships change? How would our neighborhoods change? Families would change, communities would be forever altered. Hearts and lives would never be the same.
- Matthew 23:11-12 But he who is greatest among you will be your servant. For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
- Matthew 20:28 Even as the Son of man did not come to have servants, but to be a servant, and to give his life for the salvation of men.
We love you guys and just wanted to share our hearts with you.
Wow--great post. I try to get this message across in my blog too. Where it gets hard is LIVING it.
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