We are performers. We perform our jobs, our roles – wives, mothers, daughters, friends. We judge our performances: do we perform well, or badly? Or just so-so, when we’d like to perform better?
Who do we perform for? Others? Ourselves? God?
OUR AIM: to be like Jesus:
Mark 7:36-37 (The Message)
Jesus urged them to keep it quiet, but they talked it up all the more, beside themselves with excitement. "He's done it all and done it well. He gives hearing to the deaf, speech to the speechless."
What NOT to do: showing off as the Pharisees did:
Matthew 23:4-6 (The Message)
Jesus was upset that the Pharisees were making God’s law difficult for people, but he also warned against ‘showing off’: 4-7"Instead of giving you God's Law as food and drink by which you can banquet on God, they package it in bundles of rules, loading you down like pack animals. They seem to take pleasure in watching you stagger under these loads, and wouldn't think of lifting a finger to help. Their lives are perpetual fashion shows, embroidered prayer shawls one day and flowery prayers the next. They love to sit at the head table at church dinners, basking in the most prominent positions, preening in the radiance of public flattery, receiving honorary degrees, and getting called 'Doctor' and 'Reverend.'
He also talked about this in the context of giving, and prayer:
Matthew 6:4-6 (New International Version)
so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
"And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
WHAT HINDERS US FROM PERFORMING WELL?
Stress, tiredness, difficult people, deadlines, volume of work, illness…
This is not new! Philippians 4:12-14 (New International Version)
I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
BUT HOW?
Jesus said: So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets. Matthew 7:12
Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be (wo)men of courage; be strong. Do everything in love. 1 Corinthians 16:13-15 (New International Version)
Be on your guard. Be alert for hindrances to performing well: other people – opposition; distraction; wrong prioritizing
Stand firm in the faith. My dear friends, stand firm and don't be shaken. Always keep busy working for the Lord. You know that everything you do for him is worthwhile. 1 Corinthians 15:58 (Contemporary English Version) But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect.( 1 Corinthians 15:10)
Paul was saved to give us hope. If he, who opposed Jesus’ followers so vehemently, could be saved, then so can we.
Be (wo)men of courage.
Be strong.
…for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.
Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe Philippians 2:13-15 (New International Version)
Philippians 2:13-15 (The Message)
Rejoicing Together
12-13What I'm getting at, friends, is that you should simply keep on doing what you've done from the beginning. When I was living among you, you lived in responsive obedience. Now that I'm separated from you, keep it up. Better yet, redouble your efforts. Be energetic in your life of salvation, reverent and sensitive before God. That energy is God's energy, an energy deep within you, God himself willing and working at what will give him the most pleasure.
Titus 2:6-8
6Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled. 7In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness 8and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.
1-6Your job is to speak out on the things that make for solid doctrine. Guide older men into lives of temperance, dignity, and wisdom, into healthy faith, love, and endurance. Guide older women into lives of reverence so they end up as neither gossips nor drunks, but models of goodness. By looking at them, the younger women will know how to love their husbands and children, be virtuous and pure, keep a good house, be good wives. We don't want anyone looking down on God's Message because of their behavior. Also, guide the young men to live disciplined lives.
7-8But mostly, show them all this by doing it yourself, incorruptible in your teaching, your words solid and sane. Then anyone who is dead set against us, when he finds nothing weird or misguided, might eventually come around. (New International Version)
2 Peter 1:3-4 (Contemporary English Version)
Living as the Lord's Followers
We have everything we need to live a life that pleases God. It was all given to us by God's own power, when we learned that he had invited us to share in his wonderful goodness. God made great and marvelous promises, so that his nature would become part of us. Then we could escape our evil desires and the corrupt influences of this world.
So, we don’t need to perform for anyone else, not even for ourselves. We need to ‘perform’ only for God. And that ‘performance’ just has to be our best. No more, no less.
FINALLY, BE ENCOURAGED
1 Thessalonians 1:2 – 5 We always thank God for all of you, mentioning you in our prayers. We continually remember before our God and Father
your work produced by faith,
your labour prompted by love, and
your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.
For we know, sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction.
A final blessing:
Hebrews 13:20-22
18-21Pray for us. We have no doubts about what we're doing or why, but it's hard going and we need your prayers. All we care about is living well before God. Pray that we may be together soon.
May God, who puts all things together,
makes all things whole,
Who made a lasting mark through the sacrifice of Jesus,
the sacrifice of blood that sealed the eternal covenant,
Who led Jesus, our Great Shepherd,
up and alive from the dead,
Now put you together, provide you
with everything you need to please him,
Make us into what gives him most pleasure,
by means of the sacrifice of Jesus, the Messiah.
All glory to Jesus forever and always!
Oh, yes, yes, yes. (The Message)
