Our theme for this month: “The Gift of Being Yourself”
Our Bible verse for today: “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my concerns. See if there is any offensive way in me; lead me in the everlasting way.” Psalm 139:23-24 (CSB)
Our thought for today: “There may be some things that do need to change.”
I know a young man who has a dark personality. He always has a serious and even stern look on his face. When you talk to him it quickly becomes obvious that virtually every comment he makes is in some way negative or critical. He finds fault with pretty much everyone and everything, and he is happy to tell you about it. As a result, people are put off by him and he has few friends or close relationships. He really does need to change the way he interacts with people. He needs a change of heart. He needs Jesus.
I know another man who has the worst personal hygiene I have ever seen in someone who was not actually homeless (although this guy certainly gives the appearance of being homeless). He clothes are always dirty, his hair is rarely combed, his beard is scraggly, he has body odor and bad breath, and he seems to take delight in being offensive. This man too has few friends or close relationships. He really needs to clean himself up.
When we consider the issue of “The Gift of Being Yourself”, a person could understand that as a license to be sloppy and lazy, or as an excuse to not make any effort to improve in areas that do in fact need improvement. But it doesn’t mean that at all.
I found it interesting that Robert McGee chose to begin his Bible study “The Search for Significance: Build Your Self-Worth on God’s Truth” by quoting Psalm 139:23-24 (above). The reason he did that is because before we breath a deep sigh of relief, relax, settle-in, and enjoy just being ourselves in Christ, we need to first honestly give God the opportunity to show us the things about ourselves that really do need to be changed.
When we talk about God (the Potter) molding us and shaping us into the people He wants us to be, what we’re talking about is change. Things about us are being changed. But that change is not magic and it doesn’t come about entirely by God’s effort alone. He involves us in the change. He shows us the things that need to be fixed and then we have to get busy making those changes. We have to actually do the things necessary in order to cooperate with God in this process of transformation.
So begin by being open before God and asking Him to search you and know you. Ask Him to reveal to you any offensive ways, short comings, or attitudes that need to change.
You don’t need to please other people, but you do need to please God. God knows what things about you are just fine, and which need to be changed. Be open before Him and ask Him to show you what needs to change.
Oak Hill Baptist Church