The World Is NOT Our Stage #UNITE

It’s been happening lately. I have been scanning Facebook or Instagram early in the morning.

While the house sits like an anchor against the wind outside, and I tuck tight my legs, place my neck carefully against the warm blankets that have kept me safe all night…

There, I scroll social media.

Yet, there were days I used to wake with expectancy, dropping my knees on the carpet after dreams and visions, songs in my heart keeping me, like armor…

Through whatever the day might bring me.

I see them all around me, drawn to the spotlight and fame.

But what I found in the quiet is, this world is not our stage, and the power of people’s posting, this so-called vital media news and headlines do not make up a life.

Quietly, I’ve had to intentionally anchor my heart back to Him.

I’ve been reading about how Jesus life wasn’t just…

Performing media-worthy miracles, seeking fanfare, center stage, Facebook “likes”, or followings.

In fact, Jesus often said, “Do not tell anyone what I have done”, when He did the impossible…

Commanding healings, famously delivering from oppression, yet not touting around, like Him on a stage performing for humans.

Jesus wanted to be remembered for more than some physical manifestations, showing us through scripture His character, teachings, life-example, and daily demonstrations of grace to the undeserving.

What I love about Jesus was that He used wisdom in His dealings, while reaching for sinners and drawn to the sick and needy…

He didn’t walk the earth for fame and fortune, power or influence.

Yet, I wonder…

• Is my heart turning daily more to be like Him?
• Are my hands performing acts increasingly for those who can’t do anything for me?
• Is my time spent doing things less Facebook worthy, and more invisible, solely for the purpose of glorying God in heaven?

Johann Wolfgang van Goethe once said, “You can easily judge the character of a man (or woman) by how he (she) treats those who can do nothing for him (her).”

And I have seen them myself…

Those praised when life is going good, but abandoned when their life turns downward, hard things coming their way…

And yet, Jesus didn’t turn away.

• He came to seek and save the lost.
• He ran to the destitute.
• He came for those in pain, needing a Physician.

He acknowledged those others turned from, such as…

• The woman with the blood disorder.
• The lepers that had been exiled.
• The demon possessed man who had been shackled outside the city gates like an animal.

Jesus seemed to make the poor and outcast His center stage.

His heart was never to appease the Pharisees, but bent low to quietly bring healing to those desperately needing Him…

Shouldn’t we do the same.

Jesus told us, “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.” (Matt. 6:1)

He went on to proclaim, “So when you give to the needy, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be praised by men. Truly I tell you, they already have their reward.…” (Matt 6:2)

And yet, how easy it is to post flamboyantly on Facebook, not so Jesus can be glorified, but so that we can be seen as pious and righteous, good in the eyes of others.

And oh how I long for the quiet of Francis Assisi, that servant heart for others, saints like Mother Teresa…

She was given a new car, but sold it to help the needy.

Instead of riding around the streets of Calcutta to impress other people, clouting her world-wide fame and fortune…

She exhibited a lifestyle of generosity and mercy…humility above all else.

And I wonder if it’s those not having the center stage in the end that Jesus will glorify most? 

Jesus goes on in Matthew instructing us…

“But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father, who sees what is done in secret.” (Matt 6:3)

And I think about my husband, surrounded by the destitute, talking with and giving bread to the poor, without most of the time even telling me…

But yet, how he knows that God sees. His kindness leads him to unconsciously reflect the heart of the Father…

And he doesn’t even have a Facebook.

All the while, secular people mock us Christians posting selfies of missions trips, judging others, or preaching sermons without substance….

Living with fruitless lives, in plastic words, character continually failing us…

Touting our every Instagram-worthy step so the world can praise the empty shell of our daily accomplishments…

But, what if the world is right? What if they can see our idoltry in self-centered-stage wanting…even before we can?

What if all of heaven never rejoices over the man-wanting praise, but instead the angel’s sing most over…

• The mom who stacks yet another load of laundry, putting her hands in soapy dishes day after day after day for her family?
• The parent who sits patiently while their toddler is tantruming.
• The one teaching their children baseball, or singing tenderly to that infant, who simply won’t go to sleep?
• What if God adores most that dad who works tirelessly, providing for his family?
• Those who greet at the door, silently on Sundays, or help to pass out bulletins?
• What if He honors most those who downsized their house to give quietly more to Africa?

What if these are the ones Jesus delights in most?

And I wonder if we have this worshiping God thing upside down? If the last will be first and the first will be last, in heaven like it says in Matthew 20:16?

If all creation was made not to glorify oneself, but to give our lives to look like Jesus.

This Jesus who rejected the stage, but gave His life away, willingly and sacrificially, teaching and discipling, healing and reaching…

Sneaking away to make priority, communion with His Father.

And might we too be known more for how we talk to the poor when no one is looking, than how we appear on Pinterest? 

Yes, in the end, won’t we be known less for what we post via social media and more for how we make people feel when we are with them?

And I want a faith that doesn’t need to be hailed by those on the internet…But a life lived humbly for the One who redeemed me from my own self-centeredness.

Yes, the world is NOT a stage and I’m not the center of it.

I sit on my bed, put down my cell phone, and pick up the one Book pointing to Jesus…

The one most deserving of true…

Center stage.

UNITE LINK PARTY

UNITE is a no-rules, all inclusive blog-hop. One, YOU are invited too.

Below is how it works. Before you leave, will you make sure to comment an at least one post before yours? And maybe post a link back?

Thank you! Have a great week! Blessings to each and every one of you! ~ Jen