Stepping Stones: What Does Your T-Shirt Say?

February 22, 2012

Transformational Thought

“No Fear” printed across t-shirts. Bumper stickers that question authority. Television programs encouraging disrespect and rebellion. Movies that trivialize God and make fun of Christians. More drastic indicators of rebellion … abortion, physician-assisted suicide, euthanasia, child abuse, and domestic violence. Sadly, these are all signs of our times.

Because of our me-centered nature, we have become so caught up in our need to be in charge, to be the all-knowing one, to protect our needs and comfort above all else, and to have our agenda be the course of events, that we have lost sight of the only real authority that is worthy of our respect and reverence. Satan certainly wants to push that me-centered mentality and we get sucked easily into his strategies and traps.

Respect, reverence, and fear have become offensive words in our society. A lack of concern or respect for each other or for anyone in authority has led to disorganization, relativism, rebellion, immorality, hatred, and even bloodshed. This lack of respect for mankind and other distorted attitudes about people and life can be traced to a lack of knowledge about God and a lack of true reverence for Him. To reverence the Lord means not only treating God and His message with awe and wonder, but also having a fear of being out of His will and not having His protection, guidance, and blessings.

What are some ways we can show our respect and reverence for God? Noah did it by persevering in obedience for 100 years building an ark, even during very difficult circumstances. The lives of Joseph and Daniel are great testimonies of reverence and respect for God when it would have been “easier” to cave in to another master. On the other hand we can be like Jonah, and run the other way, even to the point of almost killing ourselves when God has a plan for us that doesn’t quite match the one we drew up with our finite wisdom, and minimal thought and planning.

Today, begin to put God first in your life … to have regular devotional times with Him … to live your day-to-day life in a way that honors Him. In the activities of this day, today, are you respecting and honoring God’s provision, authority, and instruction for your life? Each of us can define one area of life in which we are not honoring Him. Dissect it a bit today. Why are you ignoring His instruction and going in the other direction? Make one small change in your strategy and see what happens. People who don't know Jesus often judge Him by what they see in His followers. What do they learn about Jesus from your life? What message is on your t-shirt? Life is your decision, so choose well.

Prayer
My Father and my Lord, It is my desire and goal to please You in everything I do. I know I have fallen short of this goal. Please help me to consistently live in such a way that others will sense Your love, and will honor You and want to know You. Help them see me honoring Your way and experiencing the blessings and fruit it brings me so that they yearn for You. Help me confess aloud when I do wrong to someone, so they see what Your way really is. I pray this and all prayers through your Son and my savior, Jesus Christ; and all God’s children say - AMEN!

The Truth
In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
Matthew 5:16

Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to win their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for his wrong, and there is no favoritism.
Colossians 3:22-25

I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live, loving the LORD your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him, for he is your life and length of days, that you may dwell in the land that the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.”
Deuteronomy 30:19-20