There is a power in not being known - in remaining hidden. We can observe and discern so much more when: the light is not shining on us; when we are not making a noise about something we have done or said; and when our left hand is blissfully unaware of what our right hand is doing. Jesus, almost without exception, asked those to whom He ministered to keep things quiet. They rarely did. It seemed a modest request. I wonder what their motive was in breaking His trust? Could it have been that they somehow enjoyed some of the spotlight of His marvelous work? I mean, He did say, from time to time - "Your faith has made you well." Maybe that little pat on the back went to their heads. When I think about it - as unflattering as it might seem - I am pretty certain that I have done that very thing. Have I not said, "Praise God, look what He did with this incredible answer to prayer?" And, all the while, deep down within me, there was some little thought that flashed through my mind that went something like this: "Yes, praise God indeed, but also, be ye wowed at the great man of God standing before you that uttered the prayer to get those results."
I am sure the disciples must have had a similar, vicarious rush as they attended to the Master. I mean, think about it - you're out in the country, no good Jewish deli around, and Jesus hands you a small fish and says: "There disciple, go up and feed the folks in sections 1-5." You look at the little limp fish in your hand and then you look up at the crowds in your section and you guess, just guess, off the top of your head, that you're staring at maybe 750-1000 people. You can remember eating several little fish this size for brunch the day before. But, in doubtful obedience (is there any other kind?) you head toward the crowd and hand out your first fish - your only fish. But something amazing happens - another fish appears - smoked and seasoned, a first century MRE (Meal Ready To Eat). How incredibly cool is that? You giggle to yourself. O
n and on it goes -fish after fish. Before long, the miracle from God gets blurred by your participation in the miracle. "Yes, Joe - here's a fish for you and - whoa! - here you go Doris, here's a fish for you and well - check it out - here you go little Billy." Before too long you're like the peanut guy at baseball games. You're chucking fish behind your back, through your legs, doing hook shots. You start asking people if they want seconds. Awesome.
At Kadesh-Barnea, Moses went postal on a rock that God had told him to simply tap. It cost him his one-way ticket to the promised land. One scene-stealing moment and God took it personal and said: "Passport denied." That is troubling. I have always felt bad for Moses. I feel bad for me. How many times have I allowed a blessing of God to go by without personally trying to initial it? I feel like one of those guys in the posse of some famous rap star or boxer. How ridiculous they look when they preen and posture around the famous person and their only claim to fame is that they are somehow related to the star - not having themslves rapped or boxed. How pathetic.
Or, think of how ludicrous this sounds: "Praise God for His mercy, for His grace - and folks, ahem, that grace and mercy would just not have been possible without my sin - thank you very much." Who would glory in that? It kind of puts a different spin on things. But you see, all works of God on our behalf are works of mercy. Yes, those works are to be lifted up - better yet, the God who works those mercies on our behalf is to be lifted up - but it must be done in such a way that the spotlight doesn't move even a jiggle our way. To Him be glory and honor and praise, the Scriptures tell us. I just cannot find my name receiving even honorable mention.
I believe Jesus gave the command to be quiet not only so that He could get some work done - but also as a mercy to those who were the beneficiaries. Knowing the dim view God takes of stealing His glory, He didn't want these little folks to miss out on the future favor of God. So, it seems that there is in store for us some discernible intention toward aquiring a taste for the obscure - of allowing the spotlight to remain where it does us the most good - on Him , not on us. Our eyes were not made for such brightness, not at least until that day when He wipes away the tears of this world and we can then see clearly. It is this appreciation for obscurity which we'll talk about in the next post. Crazy blessings on your day.
-CJ
I am sure the disciples must have had a similar, vicarious rush as they attended to the Master. I mean, think about it - you're out in the country, no good Jewish deli around, and Jesus hands you a small fish and says: "There disciple, go up and feed the folks in sections 1-5." You look at the little limp fish in your hand and then you look up at the crowds in your section and you guess, just guess, off the top of your head, that you're staring at maybe 750-1000 people. You can remember eating several little fish this size for brunch the day before. But, in doubtful obedience (is there any other kind?) you head toward the crowd and hand out your first fish - your only fish. But something amazing happens - another fish appears - smoked and seasoned, a first century MRE (Meal Ready To Eat). How incredibly cool is that? You giggle to yourself. O
n and on it goes -fish after fish. Before long, the miracle from God gets blurred by your participation in the miracle. "Yes, Joe - here's a fish for you and - whoa! - here you go Doris, here's a fish for you and well - check it out - here you go little Billy." Before too long you're like the peanut guy at baseball games. You're chucking fish behind your back, through your legs, doing hook shots. You start asking people if they want seconds. Awesome.At Kadesh-Barnea, Moses went postal on a rock that God had told him to simply tap. It cost him his one-way ticket to the promised land. One scene-stealing moment and God took it personal and said: "Passport denied." That is troubling. I have always felt bad for Moses. I feel bad for me. How many times have I allowed a blessing of God to go by without personally trying to initial it? I feel like one of those guys in the posse of some famous rap star or boxer. How ridiculous they look when they preen and posture around the famous person and their only claim to fame is that they are somehow related to the star - not having themslves rapped or boxed. How pathetic.
Or, think of how ludicrous this sounds: "Praise God for His mercy, for His grace - and folks, ahem, that grace and mercy would just not have been possible without my sin - thank you very much." Who would glory in that? It kind of puts a different spin on things. But you see, all works of God on our behalf are works of mercy. Yes, those works are to be lifted up - better yet, the God who works those mercies on our behalf is to be lifted up - but it must be done in such a way that the spotlight doesn't move even a jiggle our way. To Him be glory and honor and praise, the Scriptures tell us. I just cannot find my name receiving even honorable mention.
I believe Jesus gave the command to be quiet not only so that He could get some work done - but also as a mercy to those who were the beneficiaries. Knowing the dim view God takes of stealing His glory, He didn't want these little folks to miss out on the future favor of God. So, it seems that there is in store for us some discernible intention toward aquiring a taste for the obscure - of allowing the spotlight to remain where it does us the most good - on Him , not on us. Our eyes were not made for such brightness, not at least until that day when He wipes away the tears of this world and we can then see clearly. It is this appreciation for obscurity which we'll talk about in the next post. Crazy blessings on your day.
-CJ
2 comments:
How does one even begin to followup on a teaching like this one? I easily fall-in with the guilty party on this lesson as well. Go Moses!
Wow! What insight. The downloads you are receiving in the desert seem even more filling than those you received while in Egypt. Imagine if you will, those of us a little further down the line. We know this great man of God personally. We had dinner with Pastor Curt. My husband golfed with Pastor Curt. And so it goes. Not only do we start to take away some of the glory from God, but we idolize God's man in the process. Our focus, once again, is on the horizontal instead of the vertical. I know when I've had a prophetic word for someone and it comes to pass, God keeps reminding me He spoke through a donkey - no need to feel like I'm someone particularly special in the process! But, we want that pat on the back even if it's taking glory from the one who created us out of dust......
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