I like pizza and ice cream as much as the next guy, but it just so happens that my favorite breakfast sandwich is loaded with veggies…spinach, tomato, avocado, and of course an egg. Last weekend, my husband and I were headed out of town for the day so we picked up breakfast to eat on the road. The coffee smelled delicious and didn’t disappoint. As we drove through the toll booth and merged onto the highway, I opened the box my breakfast was in and took a bite. I tasted the veggies and avocado I was expecting, but it seemed like something was missing, so I opened the bagel to take a look inside—there was no egg. Seriously? How could they forget the egg in a breakfast sandwich? Isn’t that the main thing? Well, at least the coffee was good.
How often are we so distracted by the “extras” on the sandwich of our life that we forget the main thing? I am a wife, a mother, a daughter, a sister, a neighbor, an office manager, a stranger to passers-by, and the list goes on. Each of these roles brings its own set of responsibilities and expectations. You may be able to relate to a life filled with working, cooking, errand-running (ok, often this is just mouse-clicking), actual running, and bill-paying.
Hmm, it seems like something is missing. Oh right, the main thing…I am a Christian, a Jesus-follower, and this is my most important role. It’s not just a thing I do, it’s who I am and as such God tells me I’m supposed to be “holy”. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” 1 Peter 1:15-16
But what exactly does that mean and what do I need to do to get there? I’ve learned before that something or someone who is holy is “set apart”, but was recently challenged by the question: Set apart for what? Oh, right. Good question. Thankfully, the pastor on the podcast I was listening to proposed an answer. Surprisingly, it wasn’t about using my limited energy to do anything. Rather, we are set apart simply to become more like Jesus, reflecting our creator. So it’s not about doing something, but about living out who we are in Christ—not dependent on our own means. Isn’t that refreshing?
So let’s take it easy on the expectations we place on ourselves and others. How important are many of those details of daily life anyway? Let’s instead spend time with our Lord and reading what he tells us in his Word, the Bible, so we can become more like Him, reflecting Him in what we say and do.
And I suspect that the more I learn to be set apart simply to reflect Jesus, the more gracefully I will accomplish all the “extras”.
Great reminder!
Thanks Terry!