Day 24
Inner Narrative Pleasing God
alienated from God and hostile in your attitude by wicked deeds. (Colossians 1:21 TLV)
We can be alienated from, and harbor hostility towards, ourselves. Instead, we are to be favorably disposed towards ourselves.
Concerning self-condemnation… Before I became associated with Bible believers I don’t think I ever heard the term. I knew the feeling, but not the phrase.
Scriptures speak of the lusts of our flesh being like a spiritual disease and of the unregenerate desires of our minds being symptoms of that malady.
Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind (Ephesians 2:3a)
Part of the lusts of the mind is a perverse yearning for a religion flavored with a mistrust of God and self-condemnation. Self-condemnation is like a soulish form of self-flagellation. Whipping, or cutting oneself, is practiced by a couple of religions, most notably by some Roman Catholics (especially in the Philippines during Lent) and by many adherents to Shi’a Islam (during the Day of Ashura). For non-religious people this can be seen in a current dysfunctional fad of self-harm by unhappy adolescents. Self-flagellation can be a metaphor describing disproportionate self-criticism.
Excessive criticism of oneself rarely produces positive change and is definitely not pleasing to our King. We want to please Him. Recall our prayer:
Abba, let the words I speak and my heart’s deepest thoughts give Your presence pleasure. (paraphrase of Psalm 19:14a)
We’re certainly not to ignore the conviction of sin. We’re not to self-justify.
He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous, Both of them alike are an abomination to the Lord. (Proverbs 17:15)
At the same time we need to ally ourselves with our advocate.
Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies; (Romans 8:33)
It was revealed that the verdict has been determined.
Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. (Romans 8:1)
Pardon has been procured. Righteousness has been proclaimed. It is possible to keep our consciences clear as we maintain a dialog with the One who loves us.
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)
Part of your inner-narrative needs to be that you are a justified child of God and Jesus is your Brother.
I believe that most people know they need to change in some areas of their lives. To be aware of that, and not self-flagellate, is a mark of growing spiritual maturity. In other words, don’t beat yourself up.
Relax… Really?
My perspective is that we are best transformed from a position of rest.
Let’s think about a troubled relationship. If there is pressure to change with a sense of, “Or else…”, it is akin to social extortion. Also, how would one know if any subsequent change was sincere?
A mentor told me a story about a child who was taken to church by his parents. He kept standing on the pew. After being corrected a few times he was threatened with a spanking. Remembering prior experiences, he sat down. Then, he defiantly looked up at his dad and said, “I’m still standing on the inside.”
Heartfelt change is not generally the result of being threatened.
On the other hand, there’s an expression, “Don’t ever change.” When someone says that they are trying to say, “I love you the way you are.” Here’s an open secret, we can love a person as they are and, at the same time, see a need for improvement. We can be kind to ourselves and still see a need for change. We can cooperate with God who is changing us from glory to glory. This is best accomplished by going to Jesus and being transformed. He said:
“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. “For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28–30)
These words are appropriate to our topic. We need help to change our inner-narrative. I especially love the invitation to go to the Lord, Himself. After all, who wants to change apart from a relational interchange with the Lord? I mean, would it be enough to change and not be in relationship with Jesus? I hope you agree that such an option is not optimal. The Messiah described eternal life as not mere immortality but as a vital connection with His Father and with Himself (John 17:3).
Reality: The Favor Zone
Let’s get lined up with the Messiah’s point of view.
How does He see us?
How God sees us is how we really are.
Here are a couple of questions that may be worth your attention: 1) Does He only see Jesus’ righteousness?; 2) Does He see your flaws and areas where you need to grow?
How about a one word answer? They’re easy to remember. Here it is: Yes.
We have been catapulted into the sphere of God’s favor. I call it the Favor Zone. Those who have received the gift of righteousness have been transferred into the Favor Zone. It is within the Favor Zone that we work out, with great respect towards God, our salvation.
One ingredient of our identities is that we are in process. It is like being on the Potter’s Wheel. You are being formed. Embrace the process. You can draw near to God in the middle of every internal and external circumstance. The transformation will continue while you’re alive. You are being changed. Don’t give up and throw up your hands in frustration. Lift up your hands in awe and be patient. It is GOD that is working in you.
A Renewed Identity-Matter: Jesus is Your Friend
This is the identity-matter I’d like you to review and adopt: Jesus and you are friends.
Incredulous? Don’t be. Look how He was described.
The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Behold, a gluttonous man and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds.” (Matthew 11:19)
I believe this feature of their report: Jesus IS the friend of sinners. You and I qualify. Jesus is our friend, but can we say that we are His? There are degrees of friendship with Jesus described in the Apostolic Testimony.
He was friends to people who were not part of the Apostolic company.
… He said to them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I go, so that I may awaken him out of sleep.” (John 11:11)
Jesus dignified His Apostles with this description.
“I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that have no more that they can do. (Luke 12:4)
Please note that when He spoke this to them they were spiritually immature. They definitely did not fulfill this category of friendship:
You are My friends if you do what I command you. (John 15:14)
So, where does this leave us in this identity-matter? How should we build our inner-narratives?
At the least we can say to the One who indwells us, “I am glad you’re my Friend. I appreciate You. I appreciate Your friendship.” Someone who sincerely says that to the Savior is His friend.
Do you see yourself as Jesus’ friend?
Break the mold of self-disqualification. You are qualified for mutual friendship as a sinner. If you recognize that you’re on the Potter’s Wheel and are a developing disciple, He calls you friend. Perhaps you think of yourself as someone who always does whatever Jesus commands you to do (probably not) and qualify for the highest form of friendship with the King. No matter what your spiritual state, Jesus is your friend, and you are His.
Speak to your soul. Rehearse this reality.
