Maybe you're like me and you have to stop running and hiding.
This week’s episode can be summed up in this scripture:
“Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven." -Matthew 5:15 (MSG)
If you’re like me you like to lay low and play the background but God is calling you out of your comfort zone and into the open. If you’re like me you’ve been on the run and hiding from the spotlight. If you’re like me, you would rather hide from that light and hide your light, too. If you’re like me, you’ve been comfortable with letting others show up and shine and would rather encourage those God has called to you to turn their attention to those people. And if you’re like me, you’re dead wrong.
We have to stop running and hiding. We have to stop halfway doing what we’ve been called to do. We have to stop playing small. We have to recognize that partial obedience is total disobedience.
You know who this reminded me of?
King Saul.
Saul stayed slipping and halfway doing what God told him to do. God would tell the Prophet Samuel to give Saul a very thorough specific set of instructions like when he said go down and completely destroy the Amalekites. Saul went down and killed a lot of them but left the King alive (facepalm) as well as kept the best of the plunder (claiming later that he planned to sacrifice it to God). But that wasn’t what God said to do. Samuel let Saul know that obedience is better than sacrifice and that God was displeased with his actions. This was basically the last straw and it led God to remove Saul from his position of power and importance and to replace him with David, another flawed man, but a man after God’s own heart. (Read the full story here.)
We want God to be proud that he chose us, pleased that he can trust us, and glad that he can use us. We can’t halfway do what we are called to do. In my case, I can’t write a book or start a podcast and be inconsistent in promoting it, running and hiding. We can’t let fear stop us and instead we have to hide behind Jesus.
On a related note:
This sermon from my church Revolution Church DC provided yet another layer of confirmation to this episode. So if you want to keep the party going, check it out!
We might be more alike than you think...
Grab a copy of my new book to see what I mean *wink wink*: Secret Donuts: a Journey to Getting Over Your Weight, Aligned with God and into Your Purpose
Connect with Alicia on Instagram and let her know your thoughts on this week's episode. Thanks for listening!
