I had the strangest dream the other night. And that is saying something, as I always have vivid, memorable dreams. Anyway, in this dream I am sitting in this church. I can see the front of the church in the distance. I seem to be sitting with most of the other people in an area that seems dark and dirty and barred with iron, like an old dungeon prison. I look up and see this woman walking down stairs at the front. Everything seems fine until her wig starts to slip and someone giggles. The woman is furious and storms off. It seems after much convincing she comes back, and has an even more glorious head of hair than before. She is recognized, amidst much pomp and circumstance as some kind of leader. She is given gift after gift; almost like a game show, "and now a NEW CAR!"
I remember feeling in that dream like I was a nobody. Just someone there to recognize how great and wonderful these other people were. Just a chicken pecking up whatever kernals those higher up deigned to throw down to us.
That was my dream. Here is something that really happened to my husband Jim and myself. We were part of a church and a larger organization, considered 'leaders'. Looking back, big fish in a tiny pond.
For some reason unknown to us at the time, but in hindsight, about to be taught a lesson by God, we were invited to the regional leader's home in the swankier part of Scottsdale. As we drove with our kids in our broken down car past that huge gate and entered through the ten foot door into a home that looked like it was out of a magazine, we felt like fish out of water. As our kids swam in their pool we went into his rather imposing office for a chat about leadership. After a bit his exact words to us were, "You cannot fly with the eagles if you run with the chickens". Jim and I just looked at each other in disbelief. We were being called out for our friendships with people in the church that others in leadership considered undesirable. Jim looked that man in the eye and told him that Jesus said that those who wish to be first must be last. That those who would be great must be servants to all; in other words, lower than the chickens.
That was a revelatory day for us. We had been taught to think that we were something special because we had a position of leadership, when the very opposite was the truth. We were to walk in humility and serve others. There are no rock stars in the kingdom of God. Acts 10:34 says that God is not partial to any man. We are all equal in His eyes. We are all part of the body of Christ. 1 Corinthians 12:12 says, "Just as the body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ." Every part of our body has a purpose, regardless of how significant we think each part may be. Our lungs help us breathe. Our skin protects our internal organs. Our brains regulate, control and make work all our bodies functions. Even the hairs on our body are important. Of course the hair on our heads seems so special, especially to us ladies after a trip to our hairdresser; but our eyelashes are there to keep dust and debris from entering our eyes, and even less glorious, the hairs in our nose are there to be the first line of defense against germs and fungus and spores. Hmm, that seems way more important than just looking pretty piled atop our heads!
The point being, each and every member or part of our body is important and there for a reason. As well as each and every part of the body of Christ is important and significant in it's own way. We are each an integral part of God's plan here on earth. We all have a role to play that only we can. We are here to fulfill His purpose, in whatever way that may be. To love Him first, and then each other; serving each other with humility and a joyful heart.
There are no rock stars in the body of Christ. There are just a whole lot of people, created by God for His good purpose. Some may 'seem' to have a higher standing, or calling, but in reality we are all just servants of the most High God. Equally loved and equally lovely in His eyes. So I guess in His eyes we are ALL superstars!
I remember feeling in that dream like I was a nobody. Just someone there to recognize how great and wonderful these other people were. Just a chicken pecking up whatever kernals those higher up deigned to throw down to us.
That was my dream. Here is something that really happened to my husband Jim and myself. We were part of a church and a larger organization, considered 'leaders'. Looking back, big fish in a tiny pond.
For some reason unknown to us at the time, but in hindsight, about to be taught a lesson by God, we were invited to the regional leader's home in the swankier part of Scottsdale. As we drove with our kids in our broken down car past that huge gate and entered through the ten foot door into a home that looked like it was out of a magazine, we felt like fish out of water. As our kids swam in their pool we went into his rather imposing office for a chat about leadership. After a bit his exact words to us were, "You cannot fly with the eagles if you run with the chickens". Jim and I just looked at each other in disbelief. We were being called out for our friendships with people in the church that others in leadership considered undesirable. Jim looked that man in the eye and told him that Jesus said that those who wish to be first must be last. That those who would be great must be servants to all; in other words, lower than the chickens.
That was a revelatory day for us. We had been taught to think that we were something special because we had a position of leadership, when the very opposite was the truth. We were to walk in humility and serve others. There are no rock stars in the kingdom of God. Acts 10:34 says that God is not partial to any man. We are all equal in His eyes. We are all part of the body of Christ. 1 Corinthians 12:12 says, "Just as the body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ." Every part of our body has a purpose, regardless of how significant we think each part may be. Our lungs help us breathe. Our skin protects our internal organs. Our brains regulate, control and make work all our bodies functions. Even the hairs on our body are important. Of course the hair on our heads seems so special, especially to us ladies after a trip to our hairdresser; but our eyelashes are there to keep dust and debris from entering our eyes, and even less glorious, the hairs in our nose are there to be the first line of defense against germs and fungus and spores. Hmm, that seems way more important than just looking pretty piled atop our heads!
The point being, each and every member or part of our body is important and there for a reason. As well as each and every part of the body of Christ is important and significant in it's own way. We are each an integral part of God's plan here on earth. We all have a role to play that only we can. We are here to fulfill His purpose, in whatever way that may be. To love Him first, and then each other; serving each other with humility and a joyful heart.
There are no rock stars in the body of Christ. There are just a whole lot of people, created by God for His good purpose. Some may 'seem' to have a higher standing, or calling, but in reality we are all just servants of the most High God. Equally loved and equally lovely in His eyes. So I guess in His eyes we are ALL superstars!