July 22, 2018
Doing the Dailies…Come to the Table…
“Audience of One”-
All for His Glory…
”For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.” Galatians 1:10
Decades ago, Athletes in Action began talking with their collegiate and professional athletes about playing with an, “Audience of One”. They challenged their athletes, whether they played their sport in a stadium filled with thousands of fans, or just a few, to play, using their gifts and talents which God had given to them. They were… “Playing for an Audience of One, eyes fixed on Him, Jesus, the Creator of the universe…Living for Him, playing for Him, and giving Him all the glory.” Every game…no matter what…eyes on Him…for Him and for His glory.
We all agree that almost everything changes in our lives, you know…everything. What does remain constant is our Almighty God, who is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and aren’t we thankful! And He is the ONE, for whom we play, for whom we live. “…For in Him we live and move and exist…”Acts 17:28
But unfortunately, the other thing which never changes in life is the temptation for my heart- (maybe even your heart) to run away or to drift away toward the stadium lights, spotlighting our lives in a game or a competition, on social media, in our social lives, in our work places, in our churches, and yes, even, within our families. It is true! Our hearts have a tendency to run toward the stadium lights, to make life about us…Or, may I say, about me, and the motivation of my heart. When all along, Life is about Him, our Creator, our Father, our Almighty God…
If you are like me, it is so easy to be swept away by the concern of what other people think about you…I can promise you that it has always been an issue for human-kind…you and I are not the only ones. Until the social media debut into the world, the platforms were relatively smaller in personal lives. But even the smaller platforms in life still held the venomous allure of people pleasing performances, losing sight of playing and living with and for an “Audience of One.” And asking the perpetual question… “But, What About Me?”
Years ago, I was given a cute little flip calendar with illustrations, catchy quotes, and Bible verses. For years, I kept the calendar turned to the scripture pages. More recently, I discovered a quote in it which really challenged me…it slowed me down and made me think…And, I set it in the window of my laundry room-where the words stared at me, sometimes glared at me.
“God can do tremendous things through people who do not care who gets the credit.”
I confess, I spent too many years worried and anxious about getting credit for my hard work. I don’t remember my children ever thanking me enough for changing their poopy diapers, for scrubbing the spaghetti stains out of their clothes, out of their hair, and scooping it out of their ears! I cannot remember even one time when our, then teens, thanked me for sitting in our really comfortable leather recliners, waiting for them to come home-to meet their curfew. Although, thankful they made it home safely…I was sometimes annoyed by lack of sleep…and a bit worried about getting credit…
I confess I spent too many years worried about who got the credit in the Parent-Teacher Organization…worried about whose idea was best, whose talents were the most valuable…worried about what other people thought of me, concerned about my way and about me, and the list goes on and on and on… Some things never change…
At times, we all are confronted by the overwhelming temptation to run toward the stadium lights with our own agendas, our own concerns, our own self-promotion, self-absorption, self-preservation. And, this is not exclusive to athletes, celebrities and stars; but, it is true about me, for ordinary people like me. It is in the every-day life, the common and ordinary elements of my day, that I am often tempted to make life about me. Sometimes, a lot of the time, I find myself trying to take credit for something God has done in my life…and the gifts He has given to me… When all along, Life is about Him, our Creator, our Father, our Almighty God, and living to please Him with our obedience, to love Him, to do life with Him…and to give Him credit! And, I have to be reminded of this daily, each day, every day…
But, we know that our God is not shocked; He is not caught off guard. He is not unaware of our little secrets. In fact, I believe that He reminds us that there is nothing new under the sun. He knows us…He knows me. And, in spite of all of these things, He still uses His people, He uses their voices…all the voices who listen to Him, who love Him, and who live for Him, to speak into the world at just the right time, in His right way…speaking His Truth, to those appointed to hear…He uses your voice…
ALL FOR HIS GLORY
I am thankful for the voices God has appointed to speak into my life…for the ministries, the teachers, my family and friends, the churches, the pastors…and for our current church, LHC whose vision statement is “To grow the community of Christ one life at a time”. All of these people have reminded me that we live with and for “An Audience of One”, with one purpose…All for His Glory, one day at a time.
And now, I care more than ever…I care more fervently about who gets the credit. You see, I am learning to understand doing life and living life for “An Audience of One”. Our Father is the One who matters; Life is about His Glory…and He is the One who should receive credit…He alone is worthy.
I still keep my little calendar in my laundry room, turned to the same page with the same message as a reminder of a lesson I continue to learn each day…but, I believe the statement is incomplete…
“God can do tremendous things through people who do not care who gets the credit.”
I have added these words at the bottom of the page…
…But, I do care, more than ever, about who gets the credit…To God Be All the Glory!
This summer, as you Do the Dailies, as you Come to His Table…remember who you are playing for, who you are living for… “An Audience of One”. The stadium lights are for Him! When we His people play on His team, All for His Glory, our lives become more beautiful and hearts more bountiful…and, He uses His people to accomplish His very great purposes! Oh friends, we are blessed, so blessed to be on His Team… Come to His Table! Summer blessings…
Love you in Jesus,
