Being Who We Are
To live a life of true faith and humility, we must be willing to be ourselves, without pretension, and live for God's approval, not man's.
Lenski explains that 'chresteuomai' means to provide beneficial acts of kindness, being willing to help and assist others with active goodwill, not just feeling generous but being generous in actions. The example of Christian love in the second century was so impactful that pagans referred to Christians as 'chrestinai', characterized by mildness and kindness. This kindness is not passive but actively engaged in doing good, seeking the good for others with considerate and compassionate actions.
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This need for external support for our sagging faith accounts for the introduction into religious activities of that welter of shoddy claptrap that has become the characteristic mark of modern Christianity. . . .
To guarantee immunity to this disease of the heart, we must cultivate a spirit of faith and humility. This works as an antibody to destroy the moral bacteria that cause bloat and distention.
If we have faith, we will be concerned only with what God thinks of us. We can smile off man's opinion, whether it be favorable or unfavorable, and go our God-appointed way in complete confidence. The excited devotees of the twin gods Publicity and Reputation will race past us with no more than a pitying glance. The self-acknowledged Great of the kingdom, the Eminent, the Outstanding will ignore us or patronize us or perhaps seek to cultivate us for their ends. We in the meantime will step neither to the right hand nor to the left. We will honor all men, be courteous to everyone, love our Christian brothers, glorify God and fear nobody.
It takes a lot of courage and independence of mind to insist upon being just what we are, and no more. But when the Lord comes, we will not have cause to regret that we did.
Sermon Outline
- The Problem of External Support
- The Power of Faith and Humility
- The Courage to Be Ourselves
- Insisting on being who we are, without pretension
- The reward of being true to ourselves
Key Quotes
“We will honor all men, be courteous to everyone, love our Christian brothers, glorify God and fear nobody.” — A.W. Tozer
“It takes a lot of courage and independence of mind to insist upon being just what we are, and no more.” — A.W. Tozer
Application Points
- We should prioritize living for God's approval, not man's opinion.
- Cultivating a spirit of faith and humility is essential for a healthy Christian life.
- It takes courage and independence of mind to insist on being who we are, without pretension.