Just being me!

Did you try to “find yourself” when you were young, or was that only my generation? People wanted freedom to “just be me”. For some it meant growing hair and beards down to their knees and hanging flowers in it, holding up their fingers in the “peace” sign, write “poetry” and songs about the bad “establishment”.  10^th and 14^th Street and Piedmont Park were covered with the “hippie” movement hanging out talking “luv”. Today the phrase has taken on a little bit of a different meaning. We say it now as a way to say we are “honest” about ourselves, really? Is that true? I talked to someone this morning who said that if they decided to “be themselves”, they would just sit on the couch and eat all day until Richard Simmons had to come cut them out of the house, rarely take a shower and, best of all, would NOT go to work! For that person that is being themself! What if being myself was to be a pickpocket, or a pedophile. What if my true self wanted to stick my tongue out at people for no known reason and say curse words at will? Un-regenerated, we would all just act like beasts of the field! Two words used to describe ‘unregenerate’ are: recalcitrant or obstinate. 1Samuel 15:23 Rebellion is as sinful as witchcraft, and stubbornness as bad as worshiping idols. When Samson acted out what he wanted, instead of being the proper Judge of God’s people that he was anointed to be, it cost him his sight and eventually, his life. Saul’s rebellion and yielding to his nature, jealousy and temper, cost him his Kingdom and also his life. David was being himself when he looked down and saw Bathsheba bathing and used his power to gain the woman by killing her husband. His rebellion cost him something very precious, the right to build the Temple of God. It is natural for a child to be himself, including temper tantrums, talking back to parents, hitting their siblings and deciding that using the trash can in the laundry room to do number 2, is a lot more convenient than going to the bathroom! Don’t ask me about that last item, it was a long time ago and the rebel was a big case of rebellion but the rebel got what rebels deserve! An old hymn says; “Have Thine own way Lord, Have Thine own way, Thou are the potter, I am the clay. Mold me and make me, after Thy will, while I am waiting, yielded and still.”  If you want to live in the center of God’s will, then you can’t act like a child and do everything your flesh is telling you to do. When you place your life in His great big, capable hand, you leave that lump of clay, which is yourself, right there!

Psalm 34:12-19 God keeps an eye on his friends, his ears pick up every moan and groan. God won’t put up with rebels; he’ll cull them from the pack. Is anyone crying for help? God is listening, ready to rescue you. If your heart is broken, you’ll find God right there; if you’re kicked in the gut, he’ll help you catch your breath Disciples so often get into trouble; still, God is there every time. Look in the eyes of God to see the Who you really are!