Monday, August 31, 2015

Not Me!





Just a few short weeks ago, I taught my first VBS class. 18 third and fourth graders arrived for 5 full mornings or fun and learning about Christ. What surprised me most was discovering that at the tender age of 8 and 9, people can already be hostile towards the Gospel.

One little boy quickly became known for the phrase “not me!”

When we spoke about Jesus healing people and asked if anyone could think of a time they were hurt or sick and wished to feel better, he’d pipe up “not me!” He explained that he believed the concept of sin is mean. Through explanations about grace, and sin’s effect on the whole world, and even God’s love for us, he remained steadfast in his proclamations “not me. Not me, I don’t want that.

At the end of the week, my husband took a turn sharing the Gospel. He had heard how much these kids loved sports and competition, so He began to explain how, to play a sport, there had to be rules. To win the sport, you had to follow the rules well. That meant knowing the rules, which meant learning from someone who taught them and enforced them. He highlighted how God wasn’t “mean” for enforcing the rules because if he didn’t, no one could win.

The little guy was listening intently. He tried to say not me and explain all of the reasons he didn’t need rules and rules ruined everything. But when my husband said “and I know I never wanted rules. I wanted to play my own way. Lots of us just want to do we want…” Mr. Not Me shouted out “THAT’s ME!

And the lesson just went on…

If we never learn the game or the rules, we’re never really playing with anybody else…we never have a chance to do well because no one can say if we’re doing well. We also never really get to win…

That got his attention. And mine, too.

We do live in a world that is all about “me.” Every day we’ve got the option to say “not me” and live our own way. That way might require denial, rebellion, isolation, determination, and much more to make it work.

But we don’t see it that. Rarely do we realize how often we say “not me” to the Lord.

When his standards seem too hard, we say “not me, I’ve got grace” instead of trying to meet those difficult expectations. Like Mr. Not Me, we’d often rather live with all sorts of brokenness pretending it doesn’t exist than say “Lord, I’m not sufficient but you are.”

We’re especially quick to find excuses, too. “Not me, I don’t gossip. I just have to talk about this person because otherwise (insert excuse).”

Familiar?

Here’s what we miss:

  • ·         Opportunities for the Lord to heal what is broken
  • ·         Growth through challenges instead of simply surviving them
  • ·         Chances to discover that when we try –and fail- grace is sufficient after all
  • ·         Room to see how God can overcome even the “me” parts we despise
  • ·         A salvation free from guilt, fear, and an obsession over “earning our own way” because it has nothing to do with "me" and everything to do with Him. 


Our Lord isn’t a Lord who worries about “me” or “not me” –He can use us either way. His concern isn’t with our lacks or our strengths, but His glory. We don’t need to feel shame or overcompensate for it with excuses and self-enforced failures and suffering.

“He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” (Colossians 1:17)

Remember who came first, who created you, and who knows: God.


The one who not only set the rules and picked you to play and coach, but who set you up as you are, too. There’s no room, and no need, for “not me” with the one who made “me.”

The victory is His, and it's won already. Rejoice that you are on His team and trust in his gameplay. Because "not me, I can't, and I won't, lose this race."

16 comments:

  1. Your Husband's explanation got me too!
    Excuses crop in so when we want to go our own way...

    I think many of us are a lot like the "not me" little boy or should I say we have the "not me little boy" inside of us!
    This is so true my dear Bethany.
    Thank you for today's devotion.
    God Bless

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    1. Thank you Ifeoma! I am often blessed by my husband's wisdom : ) We all do have so "not me!" inside of us, and it's amazing when the Lord breaks in and changes our minds. Blessings!

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  2. I love how this boy in VBS needed a different perspective to understand the lesson that he really needed to hear. We always need God's perspective but sometimes we need to be told in many different ways in order to finally understand. That is why God is such a good teacher because that is what He does for us over and over. Thank you for these words today. Visiting you from Testimony Tuesday.

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    1. What a great point, Mary! I was blessed to have 2 people besides myself share with the kids that week because of exactly what you said -God's patience and willingness to be presented in many different ways!!

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  3. Oh, that sweet little boy. I love that your husband got a "that's me" out of him. What a perfect and relatable example he used. Your list of the beauty we would miss living with a "not me" mindset is incredibly inspiring and eye-opening. Thank you for those wonderful reminders.

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    1. Amen, Candace! He was sweet -and smart. It was amazing to hear the change of words (and see the subtle change in heart.) Thank you for reading!!

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  4. Mmmm....on target post. I have been a "not me" girl. There's such bondage in it, but such freedom in humility with God. It's an in-process learning, but well worth it. Praying your little "Mr. Not Me" finds that freedom. Enjoying your post today via #IntentionalTuesday.

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    1. Praying that myself, Kristi : ) Thank you! And I hear you, I've been big on "not-me" too!

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  5. Hi Bethany! Congratulations for stepping up to help the young learn about our God. This little guy is no different than a lot of us adults. "not me" I have my own ideas, my own rules. And as you say, it's so limiting.

    Jesus lived so we can too. But we have to be able to agree that we're not perfect. We don't always get it right! I'm so glad that you are his teacher. God brought you together!
    From #RaRa Linkup,
    Ceil

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    1. Thanks, Ceil! What an encouragement. I hope to see him at VBS again next year! The Lord is so at work in their little lives -and ours, too : )

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  6. Bethany, it's so sad to see such a jaded view in someone so young. But I do admire his honesty. I've been that "not me" one ... just more quietly as I expected God's grace when I didn't want to follow His rules. But there is such freedom in surrendering and peace in doing things God's way. Thank you, Bethany, for sharing your heart at #IntentionalTuesday on Intentionally Pursuing. : )

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    1. It was shock to me. I expected kids to be bored or disinterested. I did not expect hostility, but was grateful the Lord gave the opportunity and way to meet him there. Quietly is my style too : P

      Thank you!!

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  7. Oh, I just love this! It brought back a memory of a youngster I taught in Sunday school years ago. He too was defiant when it came to our lessons, always resisting. Sometimes it just needs to come from a different source and be told a different way! That was a great idea to have your hubby take a turn:) Also such an important lesson for us. We can be consumed with self and not even realize it. Thank you for sharing!

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    1. It's a blessing to teach them, isn't it? :) Grateful to my husband, and a helper who also shared, too! Blessings!

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  8. HI Bethany, I loved this story. The "not me" issue relevant to all of us and sometimes we don't even recognize it. I have to pray for God to search my heart all the time and show me where" it is me."
    Blessings,
    Christy

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    1. That's a great way to phrase it, Christy! Thank you! Blessings!

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