Making myself cozy
1 Peter 2:11-16
These verses are a humble reminder of the reality of the life we live - or better yet, should be living. It's a coincidence that this passage was my reading for the day. My wife is in the home health care field and sees life in its sometimes most fragile state. She tweeted (@melisashafer - you should follow her, good stuff) earlier this morning as she was completing her patient files that some of the conditions she's helping to manage/treat are steady reminders that this is not our home. I have to admit that I forget this daily.
I've had several major life events recently: in the month of March alone I have moved residences, went on a 10 day mission trip to Southern India, got married, celebrated another birthday... and there's more on the way. Once I start scheduling for basic, every-day life - meetings, school plays, oil changes, new house, bank account shuffles, etc - I am simply getting comfortable... getting adjusted... making myself cozy.
Specifically, these verses call us to "... live an exemplary life among the natives so that your actions will refute their prejudices [so that] they'll be won over to God's side and be there to join in the celebration when He arrives." This makes me question where my ambitions/intentions lie. Certainly I am working my best in every avenue to leverage success for myself and my family. The better I do, the more secure I feel and increase my own self-worth. But, am I checking my exemplary life at the door? Am I "making myself too cozy" or "indulging my own ego at the expense of my soul" (v. 11)?
Sometimes I need a daily reminder. I wear a bracelet that says "TGIF - Today God Is First." Some days it just becomes part of the scenery, just something I have on my arm. Other days, it humbles me. It reminds me that this life isn't solely about ME or how successful I become. Don't misunderstand me - there's nothing wrong with being successful or striving for more. In fact, I completely believe God made us to always be reaching for our best, truly being in His image. However, we must consider what our lives look like to others along the way. Let's not get too cozy; cozy often = complacency. Complacency usually = laziness. Laziness almost always = no productive example for others to follow.
As Christ-followers, our example is our primary responsibility. We are entrusted to be the hands and feet of Christ; hands and feet that were always at work for all, always extended to all, always merciful and never self-serving, and finally pierced for all. That's our charge. That's why we're here. No time to get cozy!
- TGIF!
Created about 2 years ago
