Self-Presentation, Part 1

S

(Romans 12:1) I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your reasonable worship (NRSV).

O

Presenting one's body to God is a necessary task. Paul, having met Jesus, begged the Romans to make this intentional presentation. As a sacrifice, it means giving up something costly (my freedom to serve myself) for the benefit of something far better (serving God). As an act of reasonable faith, it means completely trusting Jesus that His sacrifice made us holy (purely God's) and acceptable (fully pleasing) to God. By dedicating ourselves back to God, we gain a reliable reference point for health ... God's image.

A (Personal)

Yielding myself wholly to God is very practical. It's an act of faith that answers my existential needs--I know who I am and where I'm going with my life. My starting and ending point is simply abiding in Christ. Like Paul, though lost at sea while traveling to Rome, was existentially secure by anchoring his hope and direction in Christ (Acts 27:23-25). Like him, I know that (1) I belong to God, (2) I serve God, and (3) I trust God.

A (Psychological)

This marks Christianity's radical departure from many psychological perspectives. Newer models of therapy reject the old medical model of expertism in favor of the privatization of morality.Watzlawick (Becvar & Becvar, Family Therapy: A Systemic Integration, 2003, p.198) asserts that each of us punctuates reality differently (i.e., our behavioral sequences are understood and meanings assigned relative to our private epistemologies). Similarly, Satir practiced family therapy with these four assumptions: (1) the natural movement of all individuals is toward positive growth and development; (2) all individuals possess all the resources necessary for positive growth and development; (3) mutual influence and shared responsibility (i.e., everyone and everything is impacted by, and impacts, everyone and everything else); and (4) therapy is a process involving interaction among clients and between clients and therapist (p. 201). In my opinion, these clinical assumptions--despite their apparent validity and practicality--are insufficient for existential guidance. Using Paul's shipwreck metaphor, it's like being lost at sea with a powerful ship but without a compass and map. Christ is the only universal and unfailing compass, map, and harbor.

P

Lord, I dedicate my body to You as a living sacrifice. To the extent that I'm able to do it, I offer myself with full integrity--forgiven of the past, faithful to You in the present, and free to be excited about an eternal future with You. Only in You is life abundant (John 10:10; 11:25). Thank You!

Seeing with Our Ears

S

(Luke 8:18) Take care then how you hear, for to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he thinks that he has will be taken away.

O

With those words, Jesus summarized His instruction that people should cause their lives to be like lamps that broadcast His light. Only His unique light, enables people to discover the causes of their stumblings. By listening well to His Words, we discover (we see) those hidden traps that torment us, and if we really see, really hear, really understand, then we will be able to live in right relationship with all other people. This is a great invitation.

A (Personal)

How do I listen carefully? I admit that I'm blind and need His light (Revelation 3:15-22). Then my praying is not unlike a bat swooping and swerving, being guided by its constant sending and receiving of sonar signals. Through prayer, I learn to see things that are otherwise invisible: the Holy Spirit helps me interact safely with people. By listening well, my sight can become a lamp that aids people who have been stumbling in darkness (Job 29:15; Isaiah 29:11-24; 30:20,21).

A (Psychological)

Our brains are constantly working. In its least intentional operations (keeping our vascular and pneumatic systems operating), it's fairly reliable. As our intentionality increases, our aptitude for irrational thinking (as Ellis described it) also increases. Especially while awake, our limbic system constantly assesses our environment for safety and survival conditions ... but not perfectly. Just as trauma (PTSD, for example) can cause our sensory assessments to distort reality; similarly, sin and relational wounds can cause our moral and spiritual assessments to misalign with reality. That's why, in Luke 11:33-36, Jesus repeats the lamp metaphor. This time, He instructs us to let His light bring internal correction. Without that, our eyes and ears are merely conduits for our darkened perceptions instead of His perfectly safe light (Ephesians 4,5).

P

Lord, thank You for Your providing Your Word for us to read so easily and hear so clearly. By reading and studying it, I'm learning to better recognize the sound of Your voice, which helps me cleanse my way of living (Psalm 119:9-11). Thank You for constantly being here to encourage, strengthen, and guide me.

Self Portraits

S

(Matthew 21:27) So they answered Jesus, "We do not know." And He said to them, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things."

O

In His answer to people who pretended ignorance as a devise for avoiding personal honesty and change, He exposed for them their primal fear (verse 26). His next words, "What do you think?" underscored the work He does continually in us--prodding us into honest evaluation of our condition. Likewise, Jesus' first words to our "family of origin" were invitations to honest thinking: "Where are you?" (Genesis 3:9). The cure for soul-sickness begins with our commitment to authenticity.

A (Personal)

If my primal need is to be honest with God, I need to be cautious about pleading ignorance. God wants me to think. If I am truly ignorant, then I need to seek Him and His kingdom above all else. Otherwise, I'll continue deeper into dark fantasies even while telling myself I'm in the light. I see that honesty with God leads to me rightly identifying both my problem and His solution. The Bible calls this alignment of our thoughts with God's Truth repentance (Isaiah 55:6-9; Matthew 4:16,17).

A (Psychological)

The Awareness Wheel has long been a popular intervention among therapists. It helps people discover the inner workings of their brains by asking, "What am I sensing, thinking, feeling, wanting, and doing?" Matthew documents Jesus asking essentially the same questions, as Moses documents Him asking similar questions of our "family of origin." (1) "Who told you that you were naked" (Genesis 3:11) prompts scrutiny of our primal resources. What I am hearing, seeing, sensing, etc. is the raw data that informs my reality. (2) "Where are you" (Genesis 3:9) echoes Jesus' often asked question, "What do you think?" (Matthew 18:12; 21:28). (3) "Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen" (Genesis 4:6) prompts my admission of not only the obvious emotion of anger, but also the underlying, primary emotions that fuel both anger and "face falling." (4) "Sin's desire is for you, but you must rule over it" (Genesis 4:7) invites my honesty about my desires. Jesus frequently prompted people to put their wants into actual words and requests so they could be processed (Matthew 20:20, 32). Finally (5) "What have you done" (Genesis 3:13; 4:10) invites my honest consideration of my actions. Jesus is indeed a good therapist.

P

Lord, thank You for pursuing me with Truth. Your questions prod me to translate my thoughts, motives, ambitions, and actions into words. That's not easy, but it helps me to face myself more honestly ... it helps me face You more honestly. The world has opened my eyes to darkness, but You have opened my eyes to rightly see darkness as darkness, and above all joys, to have my heart enlightened that I may know true hope (Ephesians 1:15-23).

Bad Breath Made Beautiful

S

(Ezekiel 37:11) Then He said to me, "Son of Man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. Behold they say, 'Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are clean cut off.' "

O

The Holy Spirit had just shown Ezekiel a dramatic, bizarre visualization of the nation's hopelessness: a valley full of dry, human bones. That pile represented a nation of mortally wounded people. God's answer was for His servant to prophecy God's Word over their hopelessness and lifelessness. That produced the first step: the outward appearance of life but without the life itself. The missing piece, the next step, was the presence and work of God's Spirit.

A (Personal)

It's not enough for me to merely go through the motions of goodness, of mechanically being responsible. It's not an issue of right or wrong, but of fulfillment. Doing good and right is necessary but lifeless without the joy of God's presence, without the delights of living in the fullness of intimacy and loving union with Him. Good deeds may look identical to casual observers, but the condition of one's heart makes all the difference: to be filled with God's Spirit is to be filled with God's love, joy, and peace.

A (Psychological)

Psychology can help with the assembling of bones, sinews, skin, and muscles (figuratively speaking). It can help heal thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. It can create an appearance of spiritual life or life-like robotic routines, which is a vast improvement for most people; but it, by itself, cannot create spiritual life. My experience, and more importantly, the revelation of God's Word is that the unique dimension of salvation through Jesus Christ is wholly different from any other experience of life (John 1:4; 5:24,40; 8:12; 11:25; 14:1-6; 1 John 5:20). Interestingly, once people receive new life in Christ Jesus, the Holy Spirit sets immediately to work to heal people's psychological problems... and He does this through interactions with people. Interesting.

P

Lord, let me hear joy and gladness; let my bones rejoice because of the forgiving, healing, strengthening works of Your Holy Spirit. Create within me a clean heart and renew within me a right and a steadfast spirit. Don't cast me away from Your presence or take Your Holy Spirit from me, but restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit (from Psalm 51:8-12). May my breath emit Your life.

Who Do You Think I Am, Really?

S

(Philippians 2:6-8) [Christ Jesus], who though He was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made Himself nothing, taking the form of a servant ... [And] humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death even death on a cross.

O

Evidently, Paul was referring at least to Jesus' disciples' testimony and experience of Jesus washing their feet ... and dying in their place (John 13:1-20). Jesus could do that freely because of His completely secure identity. Both Paul and John wrote that explicitly. Jesus was certain about His identity and His relationship with His Heavenly Father, and that security freed Him to humbly serve undeserving, uanappreciative people without violating or even challenging His majesty.

A (Personal)

I find it much too easy to miscalculate my value and other people's value. Instead of basing it on fear or selfishness or a composite of people's opinions, I need to base personal value on God's calculations. I (as are so many others) am a beloved child of God. He treasures me and sought my affections even though it cost Him dearly. Therefore, me being a foot washer or brick stacker is completely unrelated to my dignity. Instead, my attitude and character, reveal whether I have allowed Christ's image and "lovefulness" to redefine me.

A (Psychological)

According to Pauline Boss (Family Stress Management: A Contextual Approach, 2002), the ABC-X model of family stress identifies the level of crisis (X) as the composite of A (the provoking event or stressor), B (the family's resources or strengths at the time of the event), and C (the meaning attached to the event by the family, both individually and collectively). When a person or family's identity is unclear or its boundaries ambiguous (who is in and who is out), its identity is no longer maintainable: its roles are confused, tasks are undone, cognitions are blocked, decisions are delayed, and coping and grieving processes are frozen (p. 47, 95). Having a clear sense of identity and family belonging and purpose is essential for health.

P

Lord, You have received me into Your family as Your own child. How can I ever thank You enough as I explore all the benefits and meaning included in that? I marvel that as I increasingly know and love You, I simultaneously get a better and calmer grip on who I am and how I can, in very practical ways, increase my value to others ... without losing my identity in You. Amazing!