Getting under my skin

I never could stand show offs. They just get under my skin. I always preferred the underdog. Funny how God can be both at the same time.

I like how God shows off though. He doesn’t seem arrogant about it to me. Maybe that’s how it comes across to some people and that’s why they have such a hard time with God. I wish they would take a closer look at Jesus. They might see something differently. They might see someone who hid from fame and ran more people off than he cared to “show off” to.

I think God really wants to show off in people’s lives. Not to give them something to brag about, but to give them the Good News. Too often its, “look what I did” or “look what God did through me.” It’s great that people accomplish things. However, God is there to accomplish things that are bigger than we are. That is why we need him. That is why I need him.

Why don’t people let God “show off” in them? I’m sure there are more reasons. Two come directly to mind: indifference, and fear. Most people probably are indifferent. They just don’t care about letting God show off in them…perhaps they are too busy for that sort of thing. So was Moses, Abraham, Matthew, Paul, and a bunch of others I left out (maybe God will leave you out…but I hope not…ouch, I know that was good…lol). There are also those that are devout (or not) that struggle with fear. What happens when you give your life over to this radical God and he shows off in your life? Let me tell you. He screws it all up! It is awesome. Then just when you have it all under control and you have it all figured out. He screws it all up again. I think that’s the pattern. It is the most dangerous place to be and the safest place to be at the same time. He shows off like that!

I have some friends, Corrigan and Shelley, in Haiti doing some amazing things. They run this organization called the Apparent Project. Corrigan, wrote a blog about God showing off that blows me away and prompted this post.

The neat thing is, those of us that know Corrigan and Shelley have seen God show off in them for years. They are the most amazing people. They live a dangerous life. Yet they are in God’s hands…the safest place in the world. The time I have known them they have pursued Jesus with reckless abandon which gives the Spirit a place to show off especially during “such a time as this.”

Where is it that God wants to show off in you? Some form of service or ministry you need to be a part of or maybe an inner demon that needs to be tackled. Where is the place that you can’t do it? That’s where Jesus longs to go. BUT…you have to go with him.

One last thing, I notice that I am still indifferent and I am still afraid. Funny… God keeps showing off there, too… when I let him.

I’m okay with God being a show off. I also love Godly men and women like Corrigan and Shelley that are doing (and have been doing) difficult work in the name of God simply because they always point towards the one doing the real work: Jesus.