Walking on Eggshells
or
Walking in Christ?by Pam Clark
Have you ever been around Christians that would just not let you be you? Sometimes we need exhortative company that doesn't let us get away with the junk, but sometimes "church people" can be so uncomfortable to be around because there is a standard of perfection that you just can't live up to!
You feel like you are walking on eggshells and one false move and you're labeled and "out." In some places it's a literal thing, in other places, you are just not on the "in-crowd" list. Is that the way church is supposed to be? Is that the true Body of Christ? No!
Oh how we love people who are just like we are--especially if we don't get too close to them to see all of their faults! But sometimes there are waves that come through the Body, "winds and waves of doctrines" that are not fully of God. Most of the time this is based on the word of a leader and not the Word of God.
Someone has gone through a situation somewhere, handled it successfully, and now this is "the way" for everyone else! A person got victory in a few areas, got everything all "fixed up," and now they are ready to fix you up with their "proven" track record!
I have been the General Manager of the Universe before. Problem is, people just wouldn't listen to me. Can't imagine why... Some say, "Well, they wouldn't listen to Jesus either, so I am in good company!" But the problem is that they really think they are on the same level as Jesus! "They" hear from God and so you must be inferior. What arrogant pride!
There are standards in the Kingdom of God, but the base of it is love for other people in light of walking in His Commandments. The two greatest laws of the Kingdom are to love the Lord your God with your all, and, to love your neighbor as yourself--meaning to have grace and compassion and extending love. If you don't have great love and respect for whom God created you to be in His Divine Plan, you will not have regard and respect for others.
An interesting thing I heard one time--A person shared with me that a rejection spirit is just as guilty as a spirit of pride because both focus on the self. Selah! Some people think that a negative attitude toward one's self is holy when it is not! It denies God, who He is and what He has done in, through, and for us!
Some people can't face their own lives in God, so they hide behind leadership. If their leadership is in good standing, then they think their sins are forgiven. If their leader has a confrontation with another leader, then it's holy warfare over soul standing. That is not how it is supposed to work! In fact, it doesn't work that way!
It is really a sign of poor leadership in the Holy Spirit when people demand and cater to a following. They can end up becoming little armies and dictators and weapons that fight and rage against themselves as the Body of Jesus! It's a dis-grace. It's the kindness of God that leads to repentance, not the manly and worldly ability of strength. The Word declares that we need each other! EVERY joint supplies!
If Jesus is not exalted, then man really is and man can't save you. Without the Holy Spirit inside, your body will someday return to dust. The same Holy Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead, must raise you also! Does He reside in you???
So much of the Church today is focusing on "Who We are In Christ." It's an amazing study, but if we do not remember and focus on "Who God Is" as more than just someone who is continually dying to serve us and our whims, then we have missed what Life is all about!
When all our study is all based on us, things get out of balance because our view of ourselves becomes exalted. And as it does, the "church's" head gets puffed up and we think we are better than others, when it takes the same blood of Calvary for every individual, no matter how high or low, gifted or humble, their position!
The ground is level at the foot of the Cross! Jesus plainly stated that to whom much is given, much is required! We will be judged by that!
God is King of the Universe! He is Creator of the earth, the sun, the moon, the stars, and the ever expanding galaxies. He designed the eco-system of earth and all the intricate parts of it and us! He is awesome to behold and consider!
Today our songs and our teaching and our focus seem to be all about us! Even our warfare seems centered on just what is going on in "us"! We can't see our brother for ourselves, much less our society! God says that to Him the nations are just a drop in the bucket. Where does that place us? Do we really know WHO God is?
Without a healthy reverence and respect, we not only get out of balance, but we get perverse. We can focus on sin so much that we fail to be normal. We can focus on self image and self change so much that we don't understand who God is in relationship to us.
God did a mighty work for us at the Cross, but is it about us or Him? Are we really in the right perspective here?
It's awesome to think that the Mighty God of the Universe would stoop down and care for us "wee ones" that He made in His image. Can you control a sun or a star? I can't! Can you keep a galaxy in clockwork time? I can't! Can you make sure it rains in spring and snows in winter? Bet you wish you could!
The Awesome God of the Universe will communicate to us and even reveal much of His Plans as it relates to us. God even revealed His Son to us!!! But we are in no way dictating the order of the Universe, if we could even think that big!
We are called the Bride of Christ--that is the Bride of Jesus -- who came to earth as all God and all man, but so many think as they focus on this that the Bride is some sort of prima-donna who needs to be primping all the time, fluffing her dress, adjusting her eyelashes, and fashioning her hair and blush and make-up colors, when the true Bride of Christ will be a Proverbs 31 woman!
Are we taking care of business or just adjusting our lipstick? That is the foolish virgin with no faith! Does the Proverbs 31 woman sound like the Bride of Christ to you that we know today???
Proverbs 31:
10 Who can find a virtuous Wife? For her worth is far above rubies.
11 The heart of her Husband safely trusts her; So He will have no lack of gain.
12 She does Him good and not evil all the days of her life.
[Can Jesus say that about us?]
13 She seeks wool and flax, And willingly works with her hands.
14 She is like the merchant ships, She brings her food from afar.
15 She also rises while it is yet night, and provides food for her household, and a portion for her maidservants.
[Do we take care of the servants of the Kingdom?]
16 She considers a field and buys it; From her profits she plants a Vineyard.
17 She girds herself with strength, And strengthens her arms.
[Are we staying weak or becoming strong?]
18 She perceives that her merchandise is good, And her lamp does not go out by night.
19 She stretches out her hands to the distaff, And her hand holds the spindle.
20 She extends her hand to the poor, Yes, she reaches out her hands to the needy.
[Are we doing that?]
21 She is not afraid of snow for her Household, For all her Household is clothed with scarlet.
[Are we people who can really see ahead and prepare and care?]
22 She makes tapestry for herself; Her clothing is fine linen and purple.
23 Her Husband is known in the gates, When He sits among the elders of the land.
[Is Jesus known in the gates as the Honored Elder of our land?]
24 She makes linen garments and sells them, And supplies sashes for the merchants.
25 Strength and honor are her clothing; She shall rejoice in time to come.
[Are we rejoicing or wailing?]
26 She opens her mouth with wisdom, And on her tongue is the law of kindness.
27 She watches over the ways of her Household, And does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children rise up and call her blessed; Her Husband also, and He praises her:
29 "Many daughters have done well, But you excel them all."
[Is Jesus saying that about us?]
30 Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised.
31 Give her of the fruit of her hands, And let her own works praise her in the gates.
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