Lately, I’ve been realizing just how much I don’t care to be known in the world. (Don’t worry this won’t be a depressing post.) Don’t get me wrong– it would be really amazing to be on TV or have my name written across a book (especially because I want to author my own book one day) or to be rich and famous. But I’m guessing that somewhere down the road, I would end up empty. So while I know my flesh desires those things here and there, I can honestly say in my spirit that I just don’t care.
What I do care though is about making Jesus famous. It’s a worn out cliche among the Christian bubble, but what it really means is desiring to reflect who Christ is in all of life. It’s no easy task to figure out exactly who He is, but He’s given us His Word to help guide us.
In the Bible, I see how beautiful, perfect, loving, tender, merciful, gracious, and faithful He is. I see his humility in the way he dealt with people. How he not only healed the sick and the blind, but cut to the core of a person’s heart. I see how he rebuked pompous religious leaders and people in his day who were self-righteous. I see how much pain he endured on the cross to save us. I most importantly see His love for all people and how he met them right where they’re at.
Jesus’ life also wasn’t about making a name for himself, but for his Father. He didn’t manipulate people to get what He wanted. He wasn’t concerned about the affairs of this world, but about doing God’s will. I’m so challenged by his life that sometimes it’s overwhelming. I’m so messed up (most of the time). I struggle with attitude. I struggle with pride. My thoughts aren’t always pure. I don’t always love people. I often want my way only. All in all, I simply love me. It’s a total tragedy.
But I wasn’t created to make myself glorious. No one stands in front of the Grand Canyon and says, Wow. I’m so beautiful.
I was created to make God glorious.
I think that when we truly grasp what we are not, and what Christ is, that we fall on our knees in humility and wonder why in the world we keep trying so hard. We let him take the reins and work through us. I think that’s what He was getting at when he said:
I am the vine. You are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing. – John 15:5
