Friday, October 6, 2017

You are the only Bible some people will ever read...

I have been working my way trough Steven Furtick’s book (Un)qualified. It’s a very good book. The theme that runs through the book is “the third word.” Basically, when Moses came to God and wanted to know God’s name God told Him I AM. 
Moses was looking for something more, like we would when we ask someone their name.. I am Nick, or I am Beth… but not so with God. His Name is I AM. 

So Steven picks up this theme and runs with it in his book…. how we must allow God to determine our third word, like forgiven, or loved, or precious, or saved. Not broken, or abused, or adulterer. We need to let God give us the third word….

as I am reading this book, the author touched on one of the 10 commandments and it reminded me of a story that I read along time ago by another one of my favourite authors, Max Lucado. 

The particular verse in question is Exodus 20:7: “You must not misuse the name of the Lord your God. The Lord will not let you go unpunished if you misuse his name.” (NLT2)

Many of us who have grown up in the church have been told that this verse means that we are not to use the Lord’s Name in vain. We are not to cuss. We are not to say Lord Almighty. 
But, both authors— Steven and Max— agree that this verse means more than not just taking the Lord’s Name in vain. It also is talking about a lifestyle. 

(Max Lucado was in an airplane having a conversation with a Jewish Rabbi.) He goes on writing:

My puzzled expression was enough to request an explanation. "Don't think language; think lifestyle," he instructed. "The command calls us to elevate the name or reputation of God to the highest place. We exist to give honor to His name. May I illustrate?" ... I took notes. He proceeded to create a story involving a Manhattan skyscraper. Everyone in the building works for the CEO, whose office is on the top floor. Most  have not seen him, but they have seen his daughter. She works in the building for her father. She exploits her family position to her benefit.

One morning she approaches Bert, the guard. "I'm hungry, Bert. Go down the street and buy me a danish." The demand placed Bert in a quandary. He's on duty. Leaving his post puts the building at risk. But his boss's daughter insists, "Come on; hurry up." What option does he have? As he leaves, he says nothing but thinks something like "If the daughter is so bossy, what does that say about her father?" She's only getting started. Munching on her muffin, she bumps into a paper-laden secretary.
"Where are you going with all those papers?"
"To have them bound for an afternoon meeting."
"Forget the meeting. Come to my office and vacuum the carpet."
"But I as told..."
"And I am telling you something else."
The woman has no choice. After all, this is the boss's daughter speaking, which causes the secretary to question the wisdom of the boss.

And on the daughter goes. Making demands. Calling shots. Interrupting schedules. Never invoking the name of her dad. Never leveraging her comments with, "My dad said..."
No need to.

Isn't she the boss's child? Doesn't the child speak for the father? And so Bert abandons his post. An assistant fails to finish a task. and more than on employee questions the wisdom of the man upstairs. Does he really know what he is doing? They wonder.

... The girl dishonored the name of her father, not with vulgar language, but with insensitive living.... But what if the daughter acted differently? Rather than demand a muffin from Bert, she brings a muffin to Bert. "I thought of you this morning," she explains. "You arrive so early. Do you have time to eat?" And she hands him the gift.

En rout to the elevator she bumps into a woman with an armful of documents. "My, I'm sorry. Can I help?" the daughter offers. The assistant smiles, and the two carry the stacks down the hallway.

And so the daughter engages the people. She asks about their families. Offers to bring them coffee. New workers are welcomed, and hard workers are applauded. She, through kindness and concern, raises the happiness level of the entire company.

She does so not even mentioning her father's name. Never does she declare, "My father says..." There is no need to. Is she not his child? Does she not speak on his behalf? Reflect his heart? When she speaks, they assume she speaks for him. And because they think highly of her, they think highly of her father.

They've not seem him. They've not met him. But they know his child, so they know his heart.

... Paul wrote: "We are ambassadors for Christ as though God were making an appeal through us..." 2 Corinthians 5:20.

The ambassador has a singular aim - to represent the King. He promotes the king's agenda, protects the kings reputation, and presents the king's will. The ambassador elevates the name of the king.

I pray that we do the same. May God rescue us from self-centered thinking. May we have no higher goal than to see someone think more highly of our Father, our king.
"You know how the story ends? the rabbi asked..."No, I don't. How?"

"The daughter takes the elevator to the top floor to see her father. When she arrives, he is waiting in the doorway. He's aware of her good works and has seen her kind acts. People think more highly of him because of her. And he knows it. As she approaches, he greets her with six words." The rabbi paused and smiled ... "What are they? " I urged, never expecting to hear an orthodox Jew quote Jesus. "Well done, good and faithful servant."
May all of us reflect the Father's heart until we hear the same. (found this illustration here)


Really, what more could I add? 

We are representatives of Jesus Christ. Do people see Him, when they look at us? I pray the answer is yes! 

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