THE ROAR OF THE CROWD – PEOPLE ARE WATCHING!

BIBLE PASSAGE:
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud
of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and
the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance
the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer
and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the
cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the
throne of God.
(Hebrews 12:1-3)

MEDITATION:
Are you someone who enjoys being the center of attention?
Whenever someone shares a story, do you feel you need to
share one that you think is better? If you are a competitor,
do you enjoy having others watch you perform?

As a runner, you may enjoy setting new goals and times
when running alone, but you get extra motivation and
encouragement in a race, when you hear many people
cheering from the stands.

As a golfer, you may enjoy a great shot when you play by
yourself, but it is much more rewarding when you are
playing with others who witness your good shots.

As a basketball player, you may play out all kinds of scenarios
of hitting the winning shot when you are at the gym alone, but
your excitement level is over the top when you hit the winning
shot in a real game.

As a football player, you can have dreams of scoring the winning
touchdown as the clock winds down, but doing it in a real game
with the crowds watching and cheering as you run toward the
goal line is exhilarating.

If you are a ballerina, you may practice all kinds of different moves
while envisioning the spotlight is on you, and you alone. But when
you are on stage and hear the audience applauding, it excites you
even more.

If you are a cheerleader, you may rehearse some routines for many
hours in front of the mirror until you feel you have them perfected.
But when you are cheering in front of a crowd, you have a new type
of enthusiasm, and it shows in your expressions and actions.

The list could go on and on, but the truth is, there are some people
who may watch us compete, but there are many who are watching
us every day of our lives. The questions we need to ask ourselves
are:
    What will others see in us?
    How will others be impacted by what we do and say?

Paul reminds us that others are watching and consequently, whether
we like it or not, our lives can have an influence on them. As a result,
he advises believers to always remember others are watching us, so
we need to eliminate the things from our lives that will hinder them
from knowing the Lord (and from seeing a glimpse of Jesus through us).

Paul was a realest – he knew how easily sin can enter our lives. He says
we should get rid of the sinful things that destroy our witness to others.
How can we do that? We should focus on the Lord and the path He has
established for us. How do you feel when you realize the Lord had plans
for you, before you were even born?

It’s true, the Lord is involved in our lives and it’s our decision to either
allow His plans to be fulfilled through us, or choose our own plans as a
replacement for His. Does choosing our own plans instead of His seem
like a wise choice? We know God’s plans are beneficial, so our own plans
cannot be as good, can they?
    For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord,
    “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give
    you hope and a future.
    (Jeremiah 29:11)

    But when God, who set me apart from
    my mother’s womb and called me by his grace,
    (Galatians 1:15a)

    Many are the plans in a person’s heart,
    but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.
    (Proverbs 19:21)

    Commit to the Lord whatever you do,
    and he will establish your plans.
    (Proverbs 16:3)

    While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting,
    the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas
    and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”
    (Acts 13:2)

Every believer’s journey has been charted by the Lord Himself.
Think about the magnitude of that. God has created a plan that
is especially designed for you! We need to faithfully go in the same
direction He has determined for us. And when we do, we will not
only please Him, but we will please ourselves as well.

Can we follow His plan? Of course we can! He equips us to accomplish
what He wants of us by giving us two special gifts when we receive His
salvation – the Holy Spirit and a spiritual gift designed especially for 
us. We need to ask for the presence of the Holy Spirit in our life and we
need to discover the spiritual gift He has given us.
    “If you then, though you are evil, know how to give
      good gifts to your children, how much more will
      your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those
      who ask him!”
      (Luke 11:13)

    There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes
    them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord.
    There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in
    everyone it is the same God at work. Now to each one the
    manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.
    To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom,
    to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit,
    to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by
    that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy,
    to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in
    different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation
    of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and
    He distributes them to each one, just as he determines.
    (1 Corinthians 12:4-11)

God distributes many spiritual gifts, and we may not know why we
were given the one we have, but we know we have been given at least
one. Why were we given it? So we can be available for God to use us
to impact the lives of others. It’s not us impacting them, it is God
impacting them through us. He works through us, and He deserves
all the praise and glory.

Satan wants us to believe that we are unworthy to be used by
God because of the things we have done in our past. But God
created us and He knows the potential we have regardless of
the mistakes we’ve made in our lives. I saw this recently and
it’s a good reminder of our relationship with God and His
desire to use us.
    “God welcomes and empowers all who desire to serve Him,
      regardless of their past. God sees the potential we have in
      Christ. Because we were made in His image and His Spirit
      dwells in us, we have a greater capacity for transformation
      and service than we could ever ask or imagine.”

Paul also reminds us of how Jesus endured the challenges
He faced while on earth in human form. Jesus looked past
the difficulties He faced and focused on the joy He would
have in His resurrected life.

In summary, Paul reminds us that:
    1. Others are watching us.
    2. The Lord has created a path for us to follow.
    3. We need to rid ourselves of all things that cause others to be
         entangled in sin and holds them back from meeting the Lord.
    4. We should remember how Jesus dealt with the difficulties of life.
    5. We should keep our focus on the Lord and
         the joy of a future life with Him in eternity.
    6. We should diligently and joyfully continue
         doing what the Lord wants us to do.

If we want to please a coach, we will do what he wants us to do, right?
If we want to please the Lord, we should do what He wants us to do.

If we want the attention of others, then our ‘stage’ should become an
opportunity for pointing them to Jesus, instead of trying to feed our
own selfish ego. This doesn’t mean we become ‘preachy’, it just means
that we blend our faith into conversations whenever we can, and we
don’t try to hide our relationship with the Lord.

When we follow God’s path for us, we discover how enjoyable and
exciting it is to walk with Him (following the Lord is NOT boring).
Our words, our actions, and our attitudes can either point others
to the Lord, or cause them to be entangled in things that lure them
away from Him.

ACTION:
Some questions we could ask ourselves:
    Where am I on the path the Lord has charted for me?
    Am I interested in discovering how God want to use me?
    Have I made the first step on His path?
    Do I have a desire to see others being saved?
    Do I have a hope that others will know the Lord?
    If I feed off the attention of others, do I consider the
    opportunities I have for pointing others to the Lord?

Pray,
“Heavenly Father, thank You for showing me how to
deal with the difficulties of life. As a living example,
Jesus has shown that when things seem insurmountable
and others disappoint me, I need to keep my focus on the
joy that awaits me when I am in Your presence. Thank
You for creating a path for me to follow. Teach me the
importance of following Your path that is especially
designed for me, and to realize the blessings that await
me on my journey of serving You. Help me to be less
selfish and to have a sincere desire to point others to
You. Give me the strength and confidence to persist
in the things You want of me.”

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