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Peace in Knowing My Place
Posted By Melissa
As a pre-teen in the 1970’s, I spent hours in front of my dresser mirror, hairbrush in hand, belting out the classics.
If I can’t have you, I don’t want nobody baby. If I can’t have you, oh-oh-oh-OH.
Hopelessly devoted to you-oo-oo-ooh; hopelessly devoted to you.
Pretending to be Yvonne Elliman and Olivia Newton John, I’d crank up the turntable, grab my Goody “microphone”, and momentarily forget whatever “tragedy” had rocked my small world that day.
Yep, I enjoyed being someone else. I still do.
Today I play the grown-up version. Instead of pretending to be a rock star, I hide behind my “Jesus girl” persona. The Sunday School teacher and Bible Study leader. A real spiritual know-it-all. Even though I don’t have it all together, I need people to think I do. I’m crushed when they realize the truth. When they discover that I’m not who I say I am.
John the Baptist didn’t have that problem. In fact, people mistakenly thought he was Someone else. Yet, the Gospel of John tells us that
He [John the Baptist] confessed (admitted the truth) and did not try to conceal it, but acknowledged, I am not the Christ! ~John 1:20 (AMP)
John admitted to everyone that he wasn’t the Coming Messiah. The NIV version says he “confessed freely” that He wasn’t the Christ. He never pretended to be Someone he wasn’t. He never took credit for Another’s work. He never tried to be anything more than what he was…an instrument to point people to Jesus. Oh, that I would stop trying to BE Jesus to people, and just POINT them to Him!
Are you like me…trapped in the cycle of performances? We could learn a lot from John. He knew his mission, and followed God’s plan carefully. He found freedom in being only who God created him to be. So can you. So can I. We find peace when we know who we are in Christ…when we exercise the gifts He’s given us and seek to fulfill His calling on our lives. Success is simple when we step aside and let Him do the work.
As I pursue peace and simplicity in 2008, I’m praying that I remember my place in the Kingdom. A princess, not the queen. A servant, not the master. And even though I’m not a rock star, a member of the Heavenly choir.
Jan 7th, 2008
There is such freedom in that, isn’t there? I don’t have to be like and do and accomplish what the person beside me has, I just need to follow what God is calling me to. What a great post to start the year.
Thank you for sharing.
Melissa,
“trying to be someone were not”, it is so easy to get caught in this. This goes right along with what I have been studying lately in the whole area of significance. I so desperately want to be just “me” and only be concerned about what “He” has already said of me. Thanks for this beautiful devotion! Blessings!
…pursuing peace and simplicity. I’m with you on that! You know, when we walk in His peace and in His Spirit, we are able to simply be who He wants us to be We can more freely surrender all concerns, loved ones, and problems to Him. Help us, Lord!
p.s. I sang the same songs in my younger years.