Steppin’ Out of the Circle
Well, simmer my stew and stir my grits, friend! Scoot your chair over here a little closer as you come on up on this front porch to sit with me for a lil ol’ a spell ‘cause James 3:16 is about to shine brighter than a raccoon caught red-handed rearrangin’ your bird feeder. That wonderful verse says, “For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.” Now that there’s a verse that lands with the thump of a watermelon dropped off the tailgate of the pickup. It tells us somethin’ we don’t like to have to admit. When self sits in the center, everything else starts to wobblin’ like a three-legged goat tryin’ to travel on roller skates.
If you ever doubt the existence of a sin nature, just observe a two year old who has decided that every toy, snack, blanket, and adult within eyesight belongs exclusively to them. Their world is smaller than a lil’ ol’ chipmunk’s hideout, and everything inside that circle is labeled as, “Mine.” My toys. My snacks. My attention. Me, me, me.
We laugh because we just expect it. You know, it’s those terrible twos as we call them. But the truth is, friend, we never really outgrow that lil’ ol’ circle of “mine.” It’s sort o’ like lookin’ at a golden ring for the finger that has no beginning or end. We just get better at disguisin’ it. Instead of throwin’ tantrums, we throw opinions. Instead of grabbin’ toys, we grab control. Instead of shouting Mine, we quietly rearrange life, so we stay in the center of our lil’ “me” ring.
And that’s exactly what James 3:16 warns us ‘bout. When envy and selfish ambition take the wheel, disorder follows behind like a confused ol’ turkey gobbler wandering right into the traffic on a busy highway. Sin is simply self-choosing self. Pride is self-exaltation. Greed is self-accumulation. Lust is self-gratification. Anger is self-protection. Lying is self-preservation. Every sin has self sittin’ right in there like a smug lil’ ol’ possum sittin’ on a stump just darin’ anybody or anything to come an’ make him move.
This is why we need a Savior. We can’t be fixin’ ourselves ‘cause the problem is ourselves. Jesus said in Matthew 16:24, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” Deny self. That’s the real cure. That’s the real freedom. That’s the only way to open the gate an’ be gittin’ out of the “me” ring.
Friend, step aside and let Jesus be the center of your life ring. That there real special spot was never, ever meant for you.
Lord, help me step out of the center and let You take Your rightful place. Teach me to deny myself, follow You, and love others more than my own comfort. Break the grip of selfishness in me and fill me with Your Spirit. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Land sakes, that hits harder than a mule swattin’ flies! As you head back into your day, let this here truth settle into your heart the way a wise old turtle settles down onto a sun-warmed rock. Let it nudge you like a persistent lil’ ol’ goat reminding you not to ignore what matters. Let it steady you like a tall pine that has stood through a dozen storms. Let it be helpin’ you to walk lighter and freer, knowin’ that life finally makes sense when Jesus, not self, stands right in the center of your life circle, an’, friend, let me tell you, that right there is right where Jesus belongs!
With joy,
Gwen
