Everything in life is about us...until...until we run into Jesus. He alone transforms. The transformation isn't easy because the self-ego won't melt well. Rather it races to the front of the line for first consideration.
Women are poor at this front. Men are worse. All are guilty.
The Apostle Paul leads the way to the back of the bus. He regarded himself as the chiefest of all sinners and the least in the kingdom. No wonder God let him write more books than the other guys. He knew God deeply.
Think about it. Sin and weakness are THE TWO things we struggle to admit. How we think others think we are doing is paramount. The bottom line within the church context today remains much like that of the Creation's beginning. It seems necessary to focus mostly on us.
Insightful Calvin Miller remarked, ....so many of us are tied to earthly concerns while we give the appearance of spiritual freedom. Appearance. How am I looking? How am I doing? So Miller continues, How thick are the cords that bind us to Christian reputation! Outward appearance fastens us to our own false needs for approval.
Oh, how I have positioned myself for approval. I had nothing to bring to the table. Therefore, due to intense self-awareness of glaring lack, I had to shine and polish what little I might have to offer just hoping it would sell in the church's market place.
The world--this sounds terribly generalized--is in need of evangelizing; yet is not hearing from God when we are desperately trying to make a trophy of our convert rather than make such a one a child of the King.
In trying to save the world for God, we must simultaneously save it from our ego-centric, how-am-I-looking, what-do-you-think-of-me selves.
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