Now, I was wearing my really loud, candy-cane-striped pajamas from last Christmas. Avari looked at me and said, "I want to look like you Mama. Can I wear my stripedy jammies?" I kind of brushed her off saying something like "in a minute, sweetie, Mommy's busy."
It wasn't long before I turned around to see her standing in her red and white striped pajama pants (She's really into changing her own clothes now.). Something looked just a little off though. I knelt down to inspect and asked, "Did you take off your other pants before you put on the new ones?" Of course, her answer was no. I was elbow deep in icing, so I told her to take off both pairs of pants and then put the striped ones back on.
Five minutes later my little angel showed up at my knee - no shirt, no pants. I washed my hands and helped Avari put on her "stripedy jammies." She looked up at me and said, "Mama, we match now. I'm just like you!" Of course, my heart melted and I hugged her tight.
After she went off to play, I heard that familiar still, small voice speak to my heart, "That is exactly what my children do." Immediately, I knew what Papa meant. Avari, in her hurry to be like me had failed to remove her current garment in order to don the new one.
Sometimes, we are in such a hurry to appear righteous that we "fake it until we make it." I've heard that phrase over and over again. I suppose there may be some merit in it, except that we are told in I Samuel 16:7 that God looks on the heart - man is the one concerned with the outward appearance. That means that Papa is more interested in what is going on under the surface than the "face" we are showing the world.
To me it feels a lot like trying to "pull one over" on God. Let's be real; we cannot hide, trick or otherwise bamboozle our omnipotent Father. Instead, we should attempt to remove the old garment of self to put on His righteousness. After all, the Bible tells us very clearly (and I like the KJV for this quote) that "all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags." (Isaiah 64:6) I'm not saying you have to get it all right the first time or that we will never sin again. I suppose what I am getting at is that we are supposed to be trading in the old for the new not trying to cover up the old with the new while still hanging on to the old for good measure. I don't know about you, but I am not a couch that needs a slipcover. I need to be stripped down and remade anew.
I'm really frustrated by those who would rather put on a false front than live a real, tangible life full of ups and downs, successes and failures, joys and sorrows. Seriously, if something is bothering me, I have no desire or ability to hide it - it is usually written plainly for all to see. Of course, the same goes for when I'm ecstatically happy. I'm pretty much an open book. If you want to know something, ask me. I'll be happy to answer you honestly.
Ephesians 4:20-24 says it better than I can:
20But that is not the way you learned Christ!- 21assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, 22to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, 23and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.Last time I checked Jesus walked on water, but I don't. I wish we could all live with that realization. So, Jesus-lovers, let's do ourselves and everyone else a favor. We need to quit walking around pretending that we are perfect. If we want to look like Papa, we need to let Him strip us of the old so we can don the new. Don't wear your stripedy pants on top of the other ones - it gets bulky and uncomfortable!
Blessings!
4 comments:
Regarding the "fake it until you make it" - that can work (and work well!) in certain areas of life like work, cooking, and so on, but of course you're spot on wrt Christianity. And too many people do feel obligated to put on their "Christian happy face." Aside from that, though, I wonder if people use the phrase as shorthand for the concept of practicing obedience until you feel like obeying?
I very often don't feel like obeying and practicing spiritual disciplines. Reading Tom Clancy is a lot easier than reading the bible... but once I get into it, the bible is obviously a good deal more rewarding and I'm glad I've done it. So in one sense, I've faked it (done something although my heart wasn't in it) until I've made it (my feelings adjusted to fit the reality that what I was doing was in my best interest.)
I completely agree with where you're coming from. However, I would venture to guess that the reason behind you laying aside Clancy for Paul is that you have a desire to grow closer to God. It doesn't stem from just fulfilling an obligation. It's a sincere hunger for a more intimate relationship with Him. If we read our bibles or pray so we can tick it off the to-do list for the day, then I think that's where we miss the whole point.
That was a very true message, also touching.
Just a quick note to inform you that this article was included in the January Blog Carnival of Christian Family Information Exchange. The blog carnival can be view at OLIN e-Book e-Publishing Blog at: http://olinepublishing.blogspot.com/2009/01/blog-carnival-of-christian-family.html Thank you for article and please consider submitting each and every month. Thank you!
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