For me, it is my college t-shirt.  It used to say Austin Peay, but after several washings it now says Ustin Peay.  It is faded to the point that I can’t even tell what the original color was, but it is comfortable.  I like to wear it when I lounge around the house, or when I work out.  It is a part of me that is hard to give up.

Did you know that God is concerned about our wardrobe?  He cares what clothes we wear, because people recognize us by them.  Colossians 3:12-14 (MSG) states, “So chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you:  compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline.  Be even tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense.  Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you.  And regardless of what else you put on, wear love.  It’s your basic, all-purpose garment.  Never be without it.”

When we accepted Christ, we became a new creation.  He picked a whole new wardrobe for us to wear and his clothes look vastly different than the ones we are comfortable wearing.  We like to wear our shirt of gossip, but that is not in Christ’s wardrobe.  We wear our vest of anger, but Christ says the vest of kindness looks much better on us.

The problem with wearing these old clothes is that people recognize us by the clothes we wear.  Think about it; if I do a drastic makeover and get all new clothes, some people will have trouble recognizing me.  They will say things like “Wow Sean, you look different.  You have changed!”  What happens if I slip on my old college shirt one day?  Then I become the old Sean again and become recognized as that old person.  We are a new creation and we need to take a good look at ourselves and see whose clothes we are wearing.

What is one “garment” that you are holding on to and what does Christ want you to replace it with?

Upon seeing someone fall the initial reaction is to make sure that the person is not hurt.  You ask questions like “Are you okay?” and “What do you need?”  If they indicated that everything is indeed alright, then the second reaction comes in… laughter.

This makes me ask the question, “What is it about us that likes to see others stumble?”  Deep down inside do we really want to see others struggle?  Does it make us feel better about our own struggles or is it just easier to move on and hide our pain if we laugh it off?

I wonder how many people have masked their pain after they stumble.  They think that by hiding how hurt they really are, the less attention they will attract.  Why do we try to hide how hurt we really are?  Is it pride, or is pain just plain uncomfortable to deal with and really uncomfortable to share?  For many people, it is easier to hide pain than to seek help.  It’s kind of like falling and never really getting back up to your feet.

We have become a society that loves to see people stumble.  News stories always tell of the latest celebrity, politician, or athlete that has taken a fall or tripped up in some way.  We even have entire television shows, like America’s Funniest Videos, that glamorize the fact that people stumble.  Have we become numb to the fact that everyone falls?

James 3:2 states “We all stumble in many ways.”

Everyone stumbles.  Everyone falls.  If we are the person watching, we can choose how we will react to the fall.  Will we lend a hand?  Will we help them to their feet?  If we are the person that falls, will we accept the hand?  Will we be honest about how hurt we are or will we choose to not get up?

God wants to use you.  Stumbling and all, but he won’t do so if you refuse to get up.

Anyone who wants to live all out for Christ is in for a lot of trouble; there’s no getting around it.  2 Timothy 3:12 MSG

In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be treated badly.  2 Timothy 3:12 NIRV

Anyone who belongs to Christ Jesus and wants to live right will have trouble from others.  2 Timothy 3:12 CEV

The question then becomes, “Do we expect to be persecuted when we follow Christ”?  If we do, then why are we always so surprised when it happens? If our Lord and Savior faced persecution on a daily basis, then why should we expect any less?  And lastly, if we are not facing some kind of persecution, are we being true followers of Christ and living a godly life?

When is the last time you were persecuted, questioned, or treated badly for your wanting to be more Christ-like?

Now picture the person or thing that is most dear to you and imagine that it is no longer there.  The love of your life gone.  Your most precious child gone.  All your long hours and your constant need to get ahead… gone.  How would you feel?  How much would your heart ache?

Most of us have experienced a loss that has impacted our life in a major way.  I remember when my own mother passed away and I felt so much pain and heartache that I felt like shutting down.  I felt cold and empty.  There was a part missing.  There would be no more phone calls, no more jokes, no more advice, and no one would be able to take her place.  I was in mourning.  I was experiencing deep sorrow.

What I was feeling and many of us have felt at that moment, would be hard to describe as a blessing.  However, the truth is that it was a blessing.  You see God knows a little something about pain.  He knows all about loss and losing something dear to Him.  He knows it all to well.  How comforting it is to know that the God of the Universe has experienced the same pain that I have.

Jesus says in Matthew 5:4 (Message Version), “You are blessed when you have lost what is most dear to you.  Only then can you be embraced by the one most dear to you”. It’s almost like God says I know your pain, I know your suffering.  I’ve been there.  Where is the blessing you ask?  The blessing is in the fact that God embraces us.  He hugs us.  He holds us.  He hurts with us.  The God of the Universe loves us so much that he holds us when we lose what is most dear to us.

May you be comforted today in the fact that God’s arms are waiting to hold you!

The fact is no one wants to deal with stress, but we don’t have a choice.  We all get stressed out.  All of us have stated at one time or another, “I give up” or “I can’t take it any more”.  We have all at some time in life reached “the end of our rope” and we feel like giving up.

By the world’s standards, this may be frowned upon because it shows our weakness.  If we say these things, then it means that we are not strong enough to deal with the stress or problem on our own.  This world view, does not coincide with the view of Christ.  Jesus wants us to admit when we have come to the end of our rope because by admitting it, we are affirming our need for him.

Matthew 5:3 in the Message translation states, “You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope.  With less of you there is more of God and his rule”. Only by admitting our weakness can we truly receive God’s blessings.

The next time you feel like you are at the end of your rope, look to the One that is holding the other end.

Than they get in all their shopping sprees.
At day’s end I’m ready for sound sleep,
For you, GOD, have put my life back together
Psalm 4:6-8 (MSG)

You’re All I Need (Hillsong)

You see me when I’m sleping
You know when I’m awake
You hear me when I pray to You
Every word I say

I know You are my Father
The greatest One of all
You never ever fail me
My friend forever more

I feel You in my heart
In my heart
Oh God

Over the past few weeks, I have heard God speak to me and say “Sean, you talk too much.  Shut up and listen for a change!”  I have to admit this is a very humbling struggle.  I like to talk.  I like to voice my opinion.  I like to complain.  I like to get my point across.  I like to get the last word in.  I want to be noticed and regarded as someone important who has something valuable to say.  God, why do you want me to shut up?  Do you really want me to be silent? Why?

I have learned the answer to these questions is because God wants to teach me a few things.  The first thing he wants to teach me is that if I am constantly talking, then I am not listening.  It makes sense.  It is physically impossible to do.  More importantly, when I feel that my voice must be constantly heard, then I can’t hear God speaking to me.  This may be the reason why many of us feel that God just doesn’t speak to us.  Could it be that HE is speaking, but WE are too busy talking to listen.

By telling me to shut up, God also teaches me humility.  I don’t feel so important.  My words and opinions are no more valuable than the words and opinions of others.  His words may seem harsh, but they put me in my place.  They show me that God is in control and he works according to His perfect will.

Perhaps this is why James writes “everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak”.  ”Shut up” may not be such a bad expression after all.

Abba Father
Your ways are better than mine
Your words are sweeter than mine
Help me be quick to listen and slow to speak
Create in me a heart that yearns to hear your voice and not my own
Your love knows no end
Amen