It's Not About Me!

Atlanta Braves first baseman, Adam LaRoche, was embarrassed recently when on a routine play he was beaten to the bag because he lost focus and was lackadaisical in his effort. Boos and jeers began to ring out from fans in the stands. He was reprimanded and benched by his coach. At his next at bat he turned to the home plate umpire and said, “It feels like I’m standing our here all alone…naked in front of everybody.” By his own admission it “was a mental mistake and just being lazy, and there’s no place for that in this game.”

I think that we all lose focus from time to time. Focus goes a long way in determining our devotion and our desire. Losing focus can be dangerous. Think about the consequences of losing focus while driving or piloting a plane. How dangerous would it be for a doctor to lose focus in the middle of heart or brain surgery.

Paul admonishes us to set our minds on “things above where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.” Some months ago Richard Owen Roberts was a guest in our church. He challenged us not to pray “cheap prayers”, that is, prayers that cost us nothing. We need to pray with the throne in sight. Praying with the throne in sight changes everything, especially our prayers.

God created us for His pleasure and not for ours. IT REALLY IS NOT ABOUT US! But you know we still make it about us. I was listening to myself pray recently when I was convicted of how selfish my prayer was and that even in my praying it was about me and about what God could and I needed Him to do for me. That wasn't prayer that was a "gimme session." When I pray that way I simply do not focus on God, but I put the focus on me.

The Bible says that I am created for His pleasure and my attitude should be, “Lord, what’s Your pleasure?” He is pleased when we seek His pleasure. That means we are not in it for what we can get out of it or what it does for us, but what does God get out of it. Since we are “His creation, created in Christ Jesus for good works” and since we are products of His grace who were at one time lost, hopeless and undone sinners that by His marvelous grace were rescued, redeemed, and reconciled it would be appropriate (and it is way past time) for us to repent, and ask Him to forgive us for our arrogant, selfish and self satisfying attitudes.

I am constantly amazed at how the Christian community approaches church these days. Although the Bible is not specific on how often we meet and at what time we meet it does define that we are to meet and when we meet we have a responsibility to be present.

Excuses abound from being tired, to needing to spend more time with family, to not getting anything out of it or even I just choose not to come. When a Christian deliberately chooses not to assemble when the body has chosen to assemble they are in violation of the Word of God.

“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more, as you see the day drawing near” (Heb 10:23-25 NASB). What is that verse saying?

• It is saying that we are to show steadfast faithfulness.
• It is saying that we are to be encouragers to our brothers and sisters in Christ.
• It is saying that when the body gathers we have a responsibility to be present (esp. in the days we are living in.)

When we worship He is an audience of ONE who deserves and is worthy of our highest praise. Our focus is to be on Him and Him alone.

We can learn alot from Mr. LaRoche. He admitted his mistake. He felt remorse for his actions or lack of them. He said that he deserved what he got. I don't know much of anything about Mr. LaRoche's spiritual condition, but I do know that in his words with the press he seemed to be showing one of the things that God is always looking for...HUMILITY.

"He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God?" (Micah 6:8 NASB)