I Had Nothing To Do With It

Last night I enjoyed another one of those moments only a dad can appreciate. As the first half of the First Assembly/Booker T. Washington game came to a close, I watched my son Caleb take a knee to run out the clock. The score was 35-0 in our favor. Caleb had thrown for 145 yards and 2 touchdowns and he had also run for another TD. I was pretty certain he was done for the night (and I was correct). Not a bad night for a kid who has never played quarterback and only learned he would be competing for the job a month ago. Of course I am proud. Who wouldn't be?

Interesting thing, however, is the reaction of other moms and dads. As I walked to the concession stand for a little H2O pick-me-up a fairly large number of fans congratulated me, as if I had something to do with Caleb's performance. As I told one dad, my only involvement took place about 18 years ago, but that is another story best kept between me and my wife! Caleb is larger than me. He is faster than me. He is way stronger than me. He is much more athletic than me. And he is fearless. So why congratulate me? What he does on the field is born out of natural giftedness, hard work, diligent preparation, great coaching, and a team of about 65 other guys working with him. Clearly, I had nothing to do with that. So, congratulations Caleb.

Later in the night as I reflected on the misdirected, but well meaning congratulations I could not help but think about how frequently praise is misdirected. I am a follower of Jesus Christ. Many years ago I surrendered my life and will to Him. In exchange He gave me the right to become a child of God, He gave me eternal life, abundant life, and the privilege of representing Him before a depraved and defective world. Certainly, I am not the only follower of Jesus. Millions upon millions live, and breath, and serve Him daily. And somehow we act as though we have done something special. We carry on like we did something to earn our place in God's family. We highlight our accomplishments as if we actually achieved them on our own.

I am guilty. I consider my call to ministry and think I am special. I think about the hard work of academic preparation and believe I am "all that." I proudly remind myself that I "miraculously" escaped both high school and college unsullied by the sexual immorality that befell many. I have served God as a pastor of a local church, but I have also served Him as a denominational servant. Wow, I am good. NOT! Jesus died for me. He saved me. It was God's plan and God's activity all along. Paul reminds us in Ephesians 2:8, 9 "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast." In 1 Corinthians 15:10 he wrote, "But by the grace of God I am what I am."

So you see, I had nothing to do with it. Neither did you. All praise to the One who is worthy. To God be the glory, great things He has done and is doing!

Journey On,

Michael