“So, the Lord said to him, “Now then, you Pharisees clean the outside of your cup and plate, but inside you are full of violence and evil. Fools! Did not God, who made the outside, also make the inside?’” (Luke 11:39-40 Good News Translation)
I got ready to title this meditation, “Things That Make You Go ‘Huh’!” I guess when you finish reading this edition of Mark Writes you will agree that either of the two titles would do. Nevertheless, feel free to pick the one you like best.
Like any other morning, on Tuesday, I woke up when I woke up. What a sentence! Let me explain. I don’t set my alarm clock anymore for 4:00 a.m. The Lord wakes me up and starts me on my way, long before that time. I don’t complain. I just comply with His wishes. I did not frown because it was 1:20 a.m. Instead I prayed, got the daily meditation posted on the blog site and then I sent it out to those who receive it via email. Thinking I deserved a coffee break, more like I really needed it, I went to the kitchen and got the coffee pot going. Rather than sitting on a stool and waiting until enough hot coffee was in the pot to fill a small cup, I returned to my work area and did some Bible Study and worked on some final preparations for this week’s Bible Study classes. Around 6:00 a.m. I decided to go to a fast food restaurant and pick up some breakfast. Wait! Be patient! I know I’m sounding like a narrator on the old Untouchables TV show or some narrator describing a chronology of events on “The Men Who Built America.” But I will move on!
As I turned into the fast-food restaurant’s drive through lane, I noticed an employee picking up trash on the lot. The back of his shirt said, “Service with a smile.” When he heard my car, he turned around and I waved my hand as a friendly gesture. He gave me a head nod in return. There was no smile on his face. I pull up to the speaker by the menu to order my breakfast. It seems like I was sitting there for more than five minutes at this fast-food establishment, an eternity at the drive thru, but eventually a gruff voice, sounding like there was anger stemming from my arrival, says, “You can go ahead with your order.” I can tell by her tone that there was no smile on her face. I pull around as ordered, or shall I be kind and say, “instructed,” and I proceeded to the first window. The same person that took my order tells me how much I need to pay, and I promptly give her my debit card. She returns it with a new order, er I mean “instruction,” “Pull up to the second window.” As you have probably surmise, there was no smile on her face. When I get to the second window, another employee brings me my order, hands it out the window and as soon as I have it in my hands, the employee quickly slides the window closed and turns away. There was no, “Have a good day!” There was no “Have a blessed day!” And, once again, there was no smile! I drove away confused. All the employees I encountered had on the same company T-shirt, so I am sure the back of each shirt said, “Service with a smile!” It made me go, “Huh!” The slogan was good, but the slogan did not match the service. What was on the outside of their person, the bright writing on their shirt was nice, but the behavior in the person, based on their non-welcoming actions, well, the behavior was not so nice.
What’s the point this morning? The point is that we have a uniform we wear each day as believers. You can call it “The Christ Lives In Me” uniform or you can simply call the uniform “Jesus.” Your “uniform” should match your cross and your bumper sticker that promotes your church, as well as the Bible in your front seat. (I know you have another Bible, at least one at home, so that’s okay.) Wear your “uniform” today and match your external claim to be a child of God, a follower of Christ, one of His disciples. Let that that dwells in the inside, the internal ways that the Holy Spirit inspires you to be conscious of, be manifested in action. Don’t be hypocritical today! Don’t hide your light! Don’t get all the church slogans right and then be slothful in your letting your light shine. Don’t behave in such a way that makes others who know you are a believer say, “huh!” I hope this encourages you and perhaps helps you through the day. Be blessed!
“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 5:14-16 The Message Bible)
Still committed to the climb,
Mark L. King