I was reading in Ephesians 5 today about putting on the armor of God (as part of Day 79 in Beth Moore's Paul: 90 Days on His Journey of Faith) and I got tickled with the word picture that came to mind with verse 14 "Stand, therefore, with truth like a belt around your waist...." OK, so I know Paul couldn't have had any foreknowledge about our culture's saggy pants epidemic but doesn't it fit? You don't tighten your belt (or heaven's forbid, don't wear one), then you end up showing a little bit more than the rest of us want or need to see. As we put on the belt of truth, others see of us what is wholesome and good and uplifting. When we don't and our lies are revealed, it's like we're standing there with our pants down.

I did a quick google search of 'sagging pants' images and, trust me, there are a lot out there. But I chose this one because of the statement: We are better than this. Yes, we have been saved from eternal death and, in response, we can live better than this. Honestly, I prefer to not see anybody's underwear when they're walking down the street but what upsets me and disappoints me more is a lack of moral integrity that compromises truth for convenience or self-promotion.

I'd like to think I'm a truth-teller because of my relationship with Jesus Christ -- who is the Way, the TRUTH, and the Life -- but I realize that I still need to put on the belt of Truth so that I can "live free of secreat areas of hypocrisy" because "Satan loves to blackmail believers who have a secret they want to keep" (BM, p. 375).

Thinking Out Loud

I want to think out loud for a few moments. I'm teaching Sunday School (ok, sorry, new terminology: Bible Study Ministry) tomorrow, and I'm processing the take-aways from a familiar story.

We'll be in Luke 5 where Jesus is teaching in a home with Pharisees and other teachers present. Apparently it's so crowded that some folks who want to get their friend in to see Jesus come up with a rather innovative way to break through the crowd: from the roof! Jesus is impressed and points out that, because of their collective faith, the paralytic's sins are forgiven.

Wait a minute, Jesus, that wasn't the point of their over-the-top effort. Plus it highly offended the religious leaders in the house. Jesus, of course, knew that and used it as an opportunity to challenge them to a heart check and, for good measure, offered Mr. Paralytic physical healing as well. Whoop! Whoop! Lots of praising and happy dances all around!

Then, instead of heading to the Jerusalem Starbucks for a coffee break, he moves into town where he encounters Levi, a tax collector, and invites him on the ride of a lifetime. Levi signs on, leaves the money business, and follows Jesus. In celebration, he throws a party, invites all his friends, and includes Jesus as the guest of honor. Jesus comes and, as a result, gets the Pharisee guys even more frustrated with Him. What's a Savior to do? Just what Jesus did . . . focus on His purpose for being around and doing what He was sent to earth to do!

OK, so that's the synopsis . . . but what will make it come alive for college students? For starters, the Holy Spirit! It's up to You to bring Your Word to life so that all who read it, including and especially young adults, can find direction and purpose for their lives.

What else? How about the friends' "Whatever it takes" attitude? How many times do I rethink what God might have been directing me to do because the situation is a little too hard? I pray for a passion so great that I will move ahead in such a way that I don't see obstacles, just opportunities.

What about the order of Jesus' healing: first, his sins; then, his body? Jesus knew the point of the paralytic's greatest need and started there. Sometimes I get distracted by the "obvious" when God's up to something so much deeper. Oh, that I can be that attuned to His ways!

I can't forget His disregard for the Pharisees' criticisms. He certainly heard their questions. He couldn't miss their displeasure. Shouldn't their use of the word "blasphemy" (an accusation that could result in death) have toned Him down just a bit? Nope. It didn't. Jesus was on a roll with heavenly consequences so He kept right on doing His thing, not theirs . . . whether it was forgiving sin, receiving the praise of grateful people, or dining with sinners.

Speaking of the bit about dining with sinners, how cool is it that Levi left behind a very lucrative (though unpopular-with-the-people occupation) to follow Jesus! And then he threw a party to celebrate, inviting a bunch of other tax collectors and 'sinners' so they could have a chance at following Jesus too. Interesting that the story doesn't tell us whether they did or not, which is okay with me because sometimes I just need to know that someone tried something for Jesus, not that it had huge success.

Lord, Your Word speaks for itself. I hope I don't get in the way tomorrow. I pray those students get a good night's sleep and will be ready to dig deeper into a familiar story with some challenging sidebars. Who knows? Maybe we'll be celebrating a new Jesus follower after the story is explored! Now, that's worth whooping over!