Day 3 - Issue 26
Psalm 139:7 NLT
'I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence!'
Recently, while training to coach individuals in personal effectiveness, I discovered there is often some distance between my intention and what is experienced by another person. This leads to a series of communication complications. I know I am sincere in my intention, yet they experience my style or performance as well off-point. Somehow, we both need to recognise and acknowledge this and close the gap between intent and experience.
God’s intention is that I relate to him and that I find ways of developing a disciple’s behaviour and show up in life as one who reflects kingdom values. The starting point is to explore if my intended behaviours, while I believe them to be ‘kingdom’, do in fact reflect kingdom values. For me the critical verse here is, “Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves” (Philippians 2:3).
This is the critical scripture St Cuthbert’s Oratory is built upon. It challenges our interpersonal reactions, demands an end to gossip, and champions servant-hearted living. You may well have another key verse that informs your primary kingdom behaviour. However, knowing that verse and basing your life upon it can be two very different things. While I might be able to justify my less than kingdom behaviours to myself, even hope that God hasn’t noticed, the psalmist reminds me that I am never beyond the gaze or presence of God. This is not to make me sweat, but to encourage me that much as Jesus accompanied the confused and dispirited disciples as they walked the Emmaus Road, so God is with us in each and every circumstance and coaches us for successful kingdom living.
So maybe there’s some value in grabbing a coffee, notepad, Bible and pen, and taking some moments to ask God how you might evaluate your behaviour so that your intention to live as a disciple of Jesus is reflected and experienced by others in everyday life. Not easy, but essential.
QUESTION: Consider how you react to receiving feedback and how you might do things differently.
PRAYER: God, open my heart to receive instruction and correction from your Holy Spirit.
