The Pits (not vipers) of Recognition

I'll admit it, these past couple weeks I have been struggling with recognition. I've been tempted and have been giving into the need for myself to be praised. Oh what a wicked heart!

A little backstory, this past year (that ended a week ago today) was one of the hardest years for me emotionally. I point this all to the fact that I was sorority president and had to carry the weight of the wrongdoings (sins) and backlash that people had against me as I tried to bring in light to a dark world. I am nothing like Jesus (I pray and strive to be more like him!), but this past year I got a glimpse of what it was like to only try to do good and get nothing in return but suffering. Ahh amen for that.

Back to the book study, reading about the Parable of the Good Samaritan, Bailey called out the exact wickedness in my heart. For the past few weeks (probs more), I have been complaining about the lack of recognition that I have gotten (from sorority, roommates, etc.) for the good things I have done and good changes I have made. YUCK! Lauren, what the heck?? Obviously, I have 1) not been finding my identity in Christ and 2) have not been loving God first. Classic trainee material.

This is further illuminated in one of my favorite paragraphs from Bailey:
"The order is important. Experience dictates that it is v. hard to love the unlovely neighbor until the disciples' heart is filled with the love of God, which provides the energy and motivation necessary for the arduous task of loving the neighbor... If the one who serves is hoping to be sustained by the responses received, and if the expected responses are not forthcoming, that person may well give up in frustration and disappointment. But if the costly acts of love are extended to others out of gratitude from God, then the believer is sustained by the unwavering love of God toward him or her." AMEN!

God waved his hands at me and finally caught my attention this past week and opened my eyes to see the pothole I was in. I'm excited to renew my mind, re-fix my gaze, and rely on God for lifting me out of the season that I have been in.

Thanks, Bailey, for the eloquent reminder. And thanks, God, for saving us from ourselves so often! Let's go round up some barneys!!!

Comments

  1. Miriam HamiltonDecember 10, 2017 at 10:18 PM

    Thanks for sharing, Lauren! I love how you ended by stating that you were "excited to renew your mind, re-fix your gaze, and rely on God for lifting you out of the season you've been in". There's so much hope in that

    ReplyDelete
  2. Steve MannDecember 11, 2017 at 11:37 AM

    Thanks for this post. I connected with it personally.

    When "recognition pot holes" take out my legs, I reflect that when/if I love God with all my heart, all my mind, and all my soul then I have no love to give to my neighbor or to anyone (cuz I've loved God w everything)....unless....God is in my neighbor.... such that the love poured out through me is Christ's love in me....offered in worship to Christ.... in my neighbor....and then my neighbor and I are two of the "least of these" in a relational communion of worship before the lamb on the throne. When I think about neighbor love this way, the "neighbor love transaction" is not so much a recognition commodity as it is a being swept into the divine rhythm of eternal things/reality.

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