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You are not the Show

                 I was raised to value toughness.  You do not whine or cry about your situation.  Instead, you grit your teeth and get things done. 
So, imagine my joy when I heard people at church talking about “working hard for God”, or reading passages that said things like, “take up your cross and follow” (Mark 8:34). “Whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it” (Luke 9:24) made sense.  The language fit too, because we labelled people with phrases like, “He is a strong Christian”.  Be tough!  Take on the challenge!  See if you can do it!   All of that sounded right to me.
                It probably sounded right to Peter too!   On the night of his arrest, Jesus tells the disciples, “This very night you will all fall away!” (Matthew 26:31).  When Peter hears this he replies, “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will” (verse 33).  Can you hear it?  Peter essentially says, “Come on!  I am too tough to quit!  These other weaklings may give up, but I won’t” and he meant it!   When the crowd came to get Jesus, Peter pulled his sword out and started swinging.  He was ready to die!  He was who he claimed to be.  He was tough!
                That would be a great story if it ended there, but it does not.  Just as Jesus predicted, later that night, Peter fails.  Three times, he denies knowing Jesus (Matthew 26:69-75).  Peter fails at the exact point where he thought he was the strongest.  Satan did not attack a hidden weakness.  Instead, he went after Peter where he was the most proud of himself.
                “Strong” should not be our word.  When I focus on my strength, my goodness or my ability, I am vulnerable.  Focusing on what I have done, or what I can do, forces God to the sidelines and puts me on centre stage.  That is never good!
Also, when the focus of church and faith is to show how good we can be, it automatically keeps others away.  Those who need help are not going to seek it among those who are pretending that they need nothing.
                Our word should be “trust”.   When I learn to trust, then I find all the other things I need.  Trust makes me pray, because I know that I need help.  Trust gives me peace, because I am reminded that God is in charge.  Trust gives me hope and joy, because I know that life is not just random chaos.  Trust, surprisingly, also gives me strength, but it is not my feeble strength.  It is God’s mighty power.
                Pride will sink us every time.  Pride pushes God out.  Pride repels others.  We are not those who brag about ourselves.  Rather, we are those who brag about our God and what he can do.
                We are not the show.  God is!
                “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5-6).

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