me, me, me

I got an email asking me to address a common problem women face, as evidenced even in Church. She wrote:

“Just curious do have do any teaching on “it’s not about you, its about God”…. I so just want women to not boast about self or what they do for others or God for that matter….I would like it all to be about Him, the One we serve.  I don’t mean to give a poor impression of the women of our church, I see this in a lot in women in general.  To me it seems we could do so much more for the Lord, if we used that extra time we now may spend on me, me, me.”

I loved her question especially as we are getting ready to teach on My Identity in Christ. For years and years, my walk with the Lord was all about me and Him. Oh I loved being used by the Lord and I was more than willing to talk about it openly. During that time, I know that I must have offended many of my Christian peers which is very funny because I spoke this way to my nonChristian friends too. They were not offended. Matter of fact, as a result of my openness, many of my unbelieving friends became believers because they appreciated the passion and the conviction I had in knowing and believing God loved me.

Many Christians however didn’t appreciate it. Tell you the truth, I didn’t notice. They seemed so unhappy that I didn’t want to be like them any way. It definitely was about me, me, me and doing all these things with God and because of God. I believed that God clearly told us in the Bible that He is in us and wants to move through us that I didn’t see it as a problem to share that truth.

When did I change? Through a very difficult time of testing. I grew out of my 10 year honeymoon period with the Lord when I became stumbled by God’s ways. I didn’t see Him working things out like I thought He should. I put my eyes on the things of earth instead of maintaining a faith and trust in sovereignty. I was stupid. I was wrong.

I think I have more trouble with Christians who try to proclaim some false humility. I hear more women say things like, “Oh, I just want to be humble. I am just going to wait for God because I don’t want it to be about me. Oh, if God wants this to happen, then He will let me know.” This kind of thinking has become a way of apathy and complacency when God has already given us all things and told us to “Go and preach…” I do appreciate the Christian who is really trying to be used by God and desires to see God in all things even if they do not communicate it in a socially acceptable manner.

Now, let’s examine the other side. What if the person is really hyperfocused and their heart/words clearly are about “me, me, me?” Let me tell you, God knows the thoughts and intents of the heart and in His time, He has a way of humbling us for our good.  We do not need to do it for Him and we don’t need to judge those who haven’t been humbled yet! But the person who is trying to seek, trying to learn, trying to trust and boasts about it…well, more power to you! Jeremiah 9 says it this way, “²³This is what the LORD says: ‘Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, ²⁴ but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,’ declares the LORD.”

More Christians need to get acquainted with the power of the Lord. More Christians need to understand who they are in Christ. Why? Because testing times will come. When it’s all said and done, we might find ourselves doubting, having great sorrow and embarrassed by our lack of faith, but God will bring to mind all those prior years of His faithfulness to get us back up and speaking back out about His goodness. I regret ever turning from the Lord and I pray that I may continue to teach others about how much God loves them so that the knowledge of their identity in Christ keeps them grounded until they meet Him face to face.

Thanks for the email…I get what you were asking but yes…we are going to be teaching the book of Ephesians, My Identity in Christ, which could be summarized by the saying, “it’s not about me but about YOU–GOD who loves me, me, me through it all.”

Ephesians study starts Monday, March 8 in person in Carlsbad and Tuesday, March 9 via webcast. Sign up now through our website at www.dailydisciples.org or calling 888-727-7206.  You will change when you find your identity in Christ.