Text: Matthew 6:5-34, Psalm 139:1-12
I want to hug the person who invented name tags. Really, I think we’d be great friends.
Meeting new people is such fanfare to some. There are mnemonic devices for remembering names, online guides to small talk, and the worst—the “get to know you” games.
Icebreakers, often in the form of “the name game” or “two truths and a lie,” are usually well-intentioned attempts to make a group of strangers more comfortable with one another. They’re also my cue to run to the nearest exit.
It’s not because I’m shy—oh, goodness, no!-—it’s just that having 10 seconds to determine my forever impression on a bunch of people I’ve never met isn’t my definition of fun.
Maybe it’s because the nicknames I’ve walked away with from these games have stayed with me longer than I’d hoped, or just because I’ve spent years talking myself out of the things I said in a moment of sheer panic (“Yes, I know I said I love to kayak, but in reality I’ve never been in one and I just couldn’t think of another word that began with the letter K”).
More likely, it’s because I want to control how the world sees me. I spend time bartering for my worth through the lens of another, and usually walk away counting my losses.
While reading about the hypocrites in Matthew 6, I begin doing the same thing.
No, Lord. I’m not like that.
And He gently pushes me to the end of the chapter, where Jesus teaches about worry, something that initially seems unrelated.
But when I can’t write others’ opinions of me, I get sweaty.
When I try to manipulate approval, I become restless.
And when I hustle to cover up my wrongs, I’m the most anxious girl in the room.
In that familiar, worried place kept secret by my shame, I find myself standing with the hypocrites as Jesus questions us—Why are you anxious, O you of little faith?
I want to point to the part of my name tag that says “Christian” in bold letters. Of course I have faith!
He reminds me to soften my strife and silence my sales pitch. Am I afraid the Christian life will go unnoticed, or am I worried I won’t get credit for being a part of it?
If we really looked to see what’s behind and before our random acts of kindness, behind and before our words formed in prayer, behind and before our songs sung in worship—would there be a void?
Those actions have a name and it’s not ours.
May I be willing to trade a whisper of my name for a shout of His.
May I stop trying to be the “bigger person” and start seeking the All Sufficient.
May I replace my performance with His presence.
May we come quietly for the Almighty to sound.
“Father, you know us in secret, and you know all our secret places.
What we do to benefit your kingdom will not be lost if it is not seen by others,
for you see and you reward according to your grace and mercy.
Strengthen us to do good works, visibly or invisibly, always in your name.”
– GK Chesterton
Kaitlin Wernet is a Carolina girl who now plants her feet in Tennessee as the Community Coordinator for She Reads Truth. Each day, she excitedly celebrates grace with her SRT sisters while attempting to tame her curly hair and avoid parallel parking.
Oh Kaitlin how your words illuminated even more for me these two wonderful passages of scripture. I, too, fear the ice-breakers, the name game, the uncertainty of the future, the disgrace of not being noticed. Don’t we all. This post was so on point for me today. May I be merely a vessel through which the Holy Spirit’s works are carried out.
Easy to get caught up in seeking approval and praise of people. especially at work. So much of society tells us as women that we have to toot our own horn! This doesn’t seem to say that. Seek the things/praise of God alone and it will be enough
Fantastic! Absolutely fantastic! Thank you so much!
I love this! May God be the focus and not myself! Praying I would have my mind set on things of furthering God’s kingdom and not selfish stuff! God deserves all the glory! Psalm 29:2 Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name… Worship him in glory and splendor! He is worthy!
Wow! As I read the Matthew passage, I thought “how does this all relate together”. Kaitlyn, you are blessed with a gift of writing truth and brought that passage together for me! Thank you! I am humbled at His feet. Let me works go unnoticed by people because then I don’t have to pretend. God sees them and knows me better than I know myself!
May I be willing to trade a whisper of my name for a shout of His……Sometimes I forget how insignificant this world is compared to the eternal life that He has planned for us (me). My life is no longer my own and hasn't been for quite some time because it belongs to Him. It is said that we as Christians are set apart. But if we are really honest how many of us would willingly choose to be different. It is a struggle that we must face daily. There is nothing outside of Him that I can do alone. He has chased me for many years and will continue to for the rest of my life. It is who He created me to be whether I like it or not. I am absolutely nothing without Him. I(we) can try to live this life without Him but trust me it just doesn't work. "Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? " Psalms 139:7 I need Him…..My name is only a small whisper compared to His.
Yesterday I heard the song ” Psalm 139″ from Robbie Seay… And today it’s in the devotional!!
When Jesus tells us not to store treasures on earth… I sense he doesn’t just mean stuff. He means don’t seek after the things of this earth, don’t be validated by them… Getting man’s approval is temporary and can fade or be corrupted. If that’s what we are after we already have our reward. Let us desire to be approved by God instead, which nothing in this earth can change.
Let’s rest in the truth that God knows us COMPLETELY and still will lead us and hold us (Ps. 139:10) and will never leave us (Ps. 139: 6-12)
Ps. I found a music project that has full passages of the Bible sung… Including Psalm 139 http://www.theversesproject.com/search?q=Psalms+139
I have been struggling so much with becoming and finding my security…when really I need only bask in His presence. Praise the LORD! HE is sufficient! :-)