What Keeps Us From Accomplishing Oneness With God? March 7, 2010

As I write this blog this evening, I have just returned from Baytown where I attended visitation for an uncle who suddenly slumped to the ground as he was entering a restaurant on FM 1960 this week only to never regain consciousness and pass from life on this earth shortly thereafter. This man was a beautiful example of the humble spirit that God's people should demonstrate in one's daily interaction with others. When I think of Uncle Don, I think of that old verse, "Lord, let others see less of me and more of You in me." He was that kind of guy. He was gentle, loving, courteous, kind and humble beyond what one might normally demonstrate or expect.

I wish you all could have known him. I think the gentle humility seen in Uncle Don is the kind of humble attitude that God seeks from His children. As we discussed in class today, the quest for significance may be the single most important factor in our inability to experience unity with God. Many of us are too busy seeking our own significance. We want people to recognize us. We just want to be publicly appreciated! Yet, from our DVD lesson today, we find that one of the reasons that people outside the church see the church as "a place were stupid people go," or "a building where people go when they need to relax," is the fact that church folk have a tendency, like the rest of society, to pursue our own significance. Many of the false impressions created among society are consequences of the actions, behaviors, and words of well-meaning Christians who are trying for find significance in their lives and actions.

Dr. Tackett explained that the search for significance, like the sex drive, is a positive thing if it is maintained within the covenant relationship. However, when it manifests itself outside the covenant relationship, it is a negative, destructive concept that has been known to destroy people and to create animosity and resentment among those who are not part of the church. Lord, help us this week to let others see less of us and more of You in our actions, words, and behaviors.