'I am Right' Syndrome

Though we are all believers in Christ we are people of diversity. Diversity in faith comes from our independent personalities, culture, family philosophy and attributes and different theological beliefs. We are all aware that there are different denominations in Christianity and each individual's perspective is different based on their theological understanding and belief.

Irrespective of the fact which theological belief we may follow, we all subconsciously function with "I am Right" attitude. This mentality is not only with respect to believers but is also prevalent among unbelievers. I always used to ponder that instead of pushing my thoughts and beliefs onto others can't I practice my faith with simplicity and humility. Can I not function as God's child without "I am Right" syndrome?

I really don't want to convince someone regarding my faith. I don't even desire to influence someone to buy into my preaching. Then one may wonder how exactly am I preaching the gospel. I really don't need to by creating opportunities...However, if I am truly a child of God in His eyes and if the practicing of my faith is self-explanatory and if somebody approaches me and probes me with questions with regard to my faith then I am sure to talk to them about it.

Personally, I believe that if my life fails to portray my faith and then I am seldom practicing it. I don't need to be perfect...but I need to be honest and sincere...is all what I need to practice my faith. I really don't need to have head counts of people to whom I have actively preached the gospel.

My philosophy of faith in Jesus is simple...

Micah 6:8 (NIV)

He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
    And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
    and to walk humbly with your God.

This should be of enough evidence to portray my faith. Besides, my life incidents or what we call testimonies should carry enough weight to serve as evidence that Jesus is indeed alive and working in my life because of His grace and not because of something I deserved to earn it.

Probity?

Probity in other words sincerity is one rare characteristic in this world and it is seldom appreciated. Sometimes we may be considered as worthless for being sincere and it may really hurt someone when their sincerity is degraded. Over the years I have seen that sincerity has never been appreciated by others. Hypocrisy is more accepted as a norm than sincerity. Pretense is considered a better trait as if it is a higher level of diplomacy.

However, the Word of God exhorts believers to be sincere.

Hebrews 10:22 (NIV)

let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings...

It is very clear that we cannot relate to God without sincerity. We can pretend to be sincere before others. However, we cannot pretend sincerity before God. Stephen Charnock, a 17th century Presbyterian preacher said "We may be truly said to worship God, though we lack perfection; but we cannot be said to worship Him if we lack sincerity.” 
Sincerity is one trait that God appreciates as He knows us in and out. Hence the author of Hebrews exhorts us to draw ourselves near to God with sincerity. For Jesus accepts us as who we are and edifies us as we are His children.

Similarly, relationships can be affected without sincerity. Hypocrisy or pretense will soon be exposed...as the Bible states "for there is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known" (Matthew 10:26). Whether in our relationship with God or significant others sincerity is the most crucial component. It is better to be criticized for being sincere than to adopt the strategy of pretense to portray a false self-image.

Trust? Transparency...? Not the World's Way!

One of the interesting topics I have been reading recently is about Interpersonal Relationships. The main characteristics for most relationships that are applicable universally are: trust, liking and commitment. Of all these characteristics trust remains the most crucial one. If we can't trust someone, it is very unlikely that commitment to maintain that relationship remains. This in turn reduces the liking or affinity towards one another. However, to maintain or sustain relationships there are always ways to work out ...and one of the primary one to work on...is trust.

The Word of God touches a lot on the element of trust because it is universally known that trust forms vital part of any relationship. Trust and transparency goes hand in hand. We are able to trust those who are transparent to us. The synonym for transparency is open heart where one is revealing his or her true self or intentions to the other sincerely.

But one might say that this is not the way of the world...This is not how relationship works in the world. Sadly, it is true...This is not the way how the world works. But this is His way...This can be witnessed in the life of Apostle Paul in his letter to the Corinth Church.

2 Corinthians 6:10-11 (AMP)

10 As grieved and mourning, yet [we are] always rejoicing; as poor [ourselves, yet] bestowing riches on many; as having nothing, and [yet in reality] possessing all things.
11 Our mouth is open to you, Corinthians [we are hiding nothing, keeping nothing back], and our heart is expanded wide [for you]!

Apostle Paul was transparent to all those with whom he related. He was a man with an open-heart, sincere and honest with his thoughts,  intentions and agendas. He had no secret motives, no hidden agendas. He was straight up to the point and made things work by being so...and naturally only those who could digest these facts could truly follow Christ accepting Paul's leadership.

Losing the Upward Vision

Recently I read a devotion by Lysa Terkeurst which was an eye opener to me. I have a very bad habit. I fret when people do not respond to the love I show. Each of us have different way of expressing love. I do things for people without they asking me and I shower gifts on them. That is my perception of expressing love. I easily get hurt when people do not acknowledge what I do for them or give back love. I don't expect people to be thankful or be grateful. But I expect them to love me in return.

The devotion by Lysa Terkeurst opened my eyes to something which I never thought of. People who really love us will love us irrespective of the fact whether we do things as per their expectations or not.
Even if we fail to do things as per their expectations they are going to love us anyway. And people who don't really love us will not love us no matter how much we do...

Wow! I never thought of human attitude and behavior in this dimension. I was relieved. It gave me a kind of freedom that I really don't need to work hard to make people love me or even accept me.

Once my co-sister told me which I got reminded of..."Don't have your focus on people. Have your focus on Jesus knowing that He loves you and knows the person you are". Yeah! It is true that I lost my focus on the upward vision. I lost focus on the fact that Jesus loves me...He knows my heart, knows my thoughts, my intentions, motives, behaviors, actions and lack of response. He knows me in and out...

I need to only fear Him and please Him and stop the bad habit of trying to please people to get their love. I decided to change my focus upward.


Psalm 139
For the director of music. Of David. A psalm.

1 You have searched me, Lord,
    and you know me.
2 You know when I sit and when I rise;
    you perceive my thoughts from afar.
3 You discern my going out and my lying down;
    you are familiar with all my ways.
4 Before a word is on my tongue
    you, Lord, know it completely.
5 You hem me in behind and before,
    and you lay your hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
    too lofty for me to attain.
.

13 For you created my inmost being;
    you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
    your works are wonderful,
    I know that full well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you
    when I was made in the secret place,
    when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
16 Your eyes saw my unformed body;
    all the days ordained for me were written in your book
    before one of them came to be.
17 How precious to me are your thoughts,[a] God!
    How vast is the sum of them!
18 Were I to count them,
    they would outnumber the grains of sand— when I awake, I am still with you.

His Beloved Child

What a privilege when we go home to hear the words of our heavenly father say: "Welcome home my beloved child, welcome home." Oh for the honor to be called 'His Child'. There is no greater reward in heaven than to be addressed as beloved and child. We can imagine the kind of smile that would be in Jesus face when He would call us thus. He would feel proud to be our father and He would feel proud that we are also His closest. God has no favorites but He does have intimates, those who stick to Him closely and live for His glory.

Oh for the grace to live closely to Jesus by knowing what He wants us to be and what He doesn't want us to be.  What He would like us to do and behave and the traits He doesn't desire to see in His children. If we can only tune to Him well to the extent where we know our Father's heart, to know His heart beat and live accordingly...that would be all that is needed to become His intimate, His beloved child.

Let us make a pledge to live up to His name, that is all it would require to bear His name...

Eph 5:1 (NASB)
Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children...

Grace to Tread

Like a traveler who goes weary on his journey so can we become weary due to life's pressures.  It is not that we become tired easily by a single bout of a negative experience. Yet a series of such experiences or challenges from different angles can make us become weary and tired. How many of us would have sighed inwardly..."I cannot take anymore" or "I cannot go on like this". A traveler becomes tired only when his strength has failed after a long journey. Similarly, our soul may become weary only after of bouts of negative experiences. Then we look up to our heavenly Father and tell Him that we can't go on or take it any more. And yet we are privileged to be reminded of His word...

Jeremiah 31:25 (NASB)
For I satisfy the weary ones and refresh everyone who languishes.

Living by Grace

Oh! What a privilege it is for the soul to know that everyday has to begin and end with grace. To know grace is one facet of life while to live by grace is another facet. I am living on the latter now. The journey of life has its road that can be both rugged as well as smooth. When walking through smooth road one rarely knows what it is to live by grace. But when everyday life is filled with challenges of different kinds be it at work, running the chores, demands of life, challenges with health and from people we acquaint with then we realize that our strength is limited to face those challenges. We constantly need to rely on His grace to get us through the day, to remove some of the obstacles on the path, to make rough surfaces smooth and even get favor in the eyes of people.

To live by grace is blessedness and for the soul to realize the need for grace perhaps we are made to travel the rough road...

Hebrews 4:16 (NIV)
Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.