Only Fools Believe Their Own Press Releases

Posted: 10 Mar 2009 12:00 AM PDT
Is 1:10,16-20 / Mt 23:1-12
Have you ever noticed how much of our supposedly rational decision-making is really nothing more than our preferences or prejudices in search of an excuse? We can spin some fancy tales and conjure some eloquent arguments, but in the end most of them amount to very little. And much the same is true of so many of our plans, prayers, and promises. Lots of talk and little more. Worst of all we can get in the habit of believing our own “press releases,” believing all that baloney to be true.

Moving from cheap talk to real deeds is at the heart of what Lent is about. It starts with repenting, that is, re-thinking what’s truly important and where we ought to be investing our main energies, if we want to call ourselves followers of Jesus. That kind of re-thinking inevitably calls us to re-forming and re-shaping parts of our lives into a clearer likeness of Jesus. And that in turn requires that we get to know Jesus better — from the inside.

God has given each one of us unique gifts for which there is a specific need in our piece of the world. Get to know Jesus better — on the inside — and He’ll show you how to carry your gifts where they’re needed. Your deeds will be ever so much better than any words. And your heart will know the delight of being a real follower of Jesus.