Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Character Moment #26 – April 9, 2008

Have you ever seen a person that is trying to deceive others, having the look of being legit, but in reality not having any integrity? It’s like the person that dresses up a mannequin and places them in the car so they can drive in the carpool lane and avoid congestion. I have a friend that pulled up along a driver that did this and saw the fake passenger. Then as the car pulled away he noticed that he had a fish decal on the back of his car. I am sure there were people that saw him that day that thought, “typical Christian.” It can be frustrating to send a message out like that when the real message of the saving love of Christ is the one that people need to see and hear.

I wonder sometimes if Orange Lutheran is a “safe place to be in sin?” What I mean is I know some in our community are just struggling with certain behaviors that really have them in their grasp. Because we have enough Christian activity, enough good stuff happening, a person could pretty much hide out and not have to face those things that are bringing them down. They can pretend they are doing the right thing, like the guy with the mannequin.

I would hope that we are a school that is “a safe place to be broken.” We all have times in our lives when we need to be broken, so that we can become the people God desires for us to become. Become people who are abiding, walking, living in Him. Allowing Him to fill us with His glory.

Living life as a Christian poser is a dangerous life to live. Humbling ourselves and allowing God to change our lives is powerful. Believing in the power He has to forgive us of all of our wrong doings is freeing. It is my prayer for us all that God will expose those things in our lives that keep us from having a true relationship with Him. It is within that relationship that our true character lies.[i]


[i] thoughts from Todd Proctor, Rock Harbor, 2.24.08, “the last week of Jesus – Monday”

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