That is why I was insanely jealous when Banks, my 11-year-old brother, began taking basketball lessons with Bobby Perry. Banks was too young to understand how big of a deal that was, but I certainly was not. I was just a few years older than Banks when I watched Bobby play as UK's starting forward.That may or may not have also been why all of the sudden I decided I wanted to come home on the weekends and offer to take my brother to his basketball lessons. But I’m admitting nothing.
One day, after Banks finished his lesson, Bobby stayed on the sidelines of the empty gym having a conversation with my dad. My palms began to sweat. I knew it was my shot.
My chance to prove myself.
So I got up, strutted onto the court, and ripped the ball straight out of Banks’ hands. He giggled and lazily put his arms up in a poor attempt at defense. Obviously he didn’t know whom he was messing with, here. They don’t call me “Jordan” for nothin’.
Frustrated at his mocking of my skill, I leaned my shoulder into his body, and pulled back for an incredible fade-away jumper.
Swish.
It was textbook. I made my 75 pound, 5’1” brother look like a fool.
I looked back over my shoulder and saw Bobby’s nod of affirmation (and my dad’s embarrassed nod of disapproval).The moment was perfect.
But then they kept talking and my
brother kept shooting.
My moment was gone.
I know it’s a silly story (although I’m still quite proud), but as silly as it is, I think this is a regular game many Christians play. Many times, it is the same show we try to put on in front of God.
As my mom continues to point out, a former UK basketball player probably wasn’t awestruck at my show of talent against my kid brother. While the point is still debatable, I seriously doubt that God, the definition of holy, is ever really that impressed with our shows of holiness.
You know what I’m talking about…like the times when we swell up on the inside as we slip our tithe in the offering plate, memorize a Bible verse, or take a Saturday morning to serve food to the homeless.
“Look at me NOW, God,” we think. “Did you see that? THAT was holy.”It’s almost as if any good work we do makes up for any bad we have done.
Now, that may not be a thought process we consciously participate in, but if we are honest, I think our hearts far too often resonate with the belief that God is impressed by our acts of “holiness."
It’s comical really. Just as attempting to show off was foolish in the eyes of Bobby Perry, the Lord says our “righteous acts are as filthy rags" in the eyes of the Lord (Isaiah 64:6).
Don’t get me wrong here - God indeed calls us to righteousness. But such acts naturally progress out of the overflow of the heart motivated by HIM and for HIM. Not by us for us.
We are the farthest things from holy, 100% separated from a holy God.
“But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved.” (Ephesians 2:4-5)
It is God’s grace that saves us. God’s grace that redeems us. And God’s grace working through us to bring about holiness.
Our faith is rooted in the grace of God - the sacrifice of Jesus. Christians are called to embrace that grace. Not to attempt redemption by our own efforts. We get that at the moment of salvation, but somewhere along the lines some of us begin “showing off” in hopes of gaining God’s favor.
It’s foolish. And it’s hurtful to a savior that sacrificed it all.
Our righteous acts don’t measure up. But HE does. And He works in and through us.
Let’s stop spitting on the work of the Cross.
It’s worth too much.
“O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?” Galatians 3:1-3
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