For years now, I have said, "you will lie to yourself quicker than you will lie to anyone!" We are people who do not want to face the truth. Why else does a woman ask her friends or mate, "does this make me look fat?"
After losing my hair, I would always ask, "Can you tell it's a wig?" Why? Because I wanted someone to reassure me that no one could tell, even though in the early days, you could definitely tell!
We have a hard time facing and adjusting to the truth or reality as we find it. That's why I find it fascinating that Jesus spoke in parables to large crowds on purpose. Why would he make the truth or understanding of his words hard to find? When asked why by his disciples, he said,
"The knowledge to the secrets of heaven has been given to you, but it has not been given to them...I teach in parables so the people may look but not see, listen but not hear or understand. " Matthew 13:11-13 The Voice Translation
Jesus was saying, not everyone in the crowd is looking for the truth, some o f them just want to "feel good". No wonder we have a "Mega church phenomena" in America. He goes on to explain that many in the crowd have hearts that have turned to flab, their ears are clogged and their eyes are shut. In other words, they are lying to themselves because they do not want to deal with the truth and change.
We are a people who rationalize our behavior so that we don't have to do the hard work of changing our behavior. I learned an very hard but important lesson, "if I have to rationalize to make my actions or lack of actions okay, then it must be wrong."
The ones who find the TRUTH are those who actively seek it! The truth really does set you free to live an abundant life. Try it, you might like it. Learn to listen and catch yourself rationalizing or trying to convince yourself and others. It is eye opening.
Lately, I am realizing how important families are to God's redemptive plan. In our age of independence and travel, we live in a generation where the extended family is scattered and family ties are often broken.
Two things I learned early on in my walk with Christ were:
- If I served Christ's church with all my heart but lost my family, would I have gained what God wanted?
- If you can't live your faith at home in front of those who know you best, then everything else is fake.
So I set out to do just that, to ensure that my husband, kids, brothers, sisters, cousins, etc., saw an example of a life transformed by a transforming God. Of course, it was hard at first, families can really push your buttons but what better training ground.
Some of my biblical examples for this are Noah, Abraham and Job. Their stories tell of lives where the most important thing was family salvation. A New Testament example is Cornelius in Acts. Each Story demonstrates lives saved through family ties.
Listen to what God told Abraham as he was preparing to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah, where his nephew Lot lived. In the Message Genesis Ch 18: 17-24
"Shall I keep back from Abraham what I'm about to do? ... I've settled on him as the one to train his children and future family to observe God's way of life, live kindly and generously and fairly, so that God can complete in Abraham what he promised him."
Try inserting your name in that verse. It is powerful. I believe that is where change begins...at home.
I remember after I really began to love God with my whole heart. I wanted to serve him and so something big and worthwhile. I asked God, what do you want me to do for you? I had visions of being a "Beth Moore" or serving God full time on the mission field. I will never forget the impression I got as I was praying and asking God for something to do. It was as if God asked me this question,
What if the only ministry I ever give you is to your family, to your husband and your children? Would you accept that ministry?
Wow. The truth was I wanted a ministry that was glamorous. Not sure anyone who is a wife and mother would think that the ministry God offered above is very glamorous. But after a few minutes longer in prayer, what do you say to God except, YES. I then set out to live my faith out loud as an example without a lot of words in front of my family. That was 13 years ago and now I see God's wisdom in his teaching. No greater ministry than the one we offer to our families. It is God's greatest tool to passing down faith.