So during my sermon last week, i used an illustration that won over most of the members of my class - and then i've heard this song a couple of times on the radio and to me - they totally go together - and it's a lot with what i've been dealing with most of my life... so i decided it would be great to post it... so i'll start with the illustration (actually the entire second point of my sermon) - i'll just copy it straight from my sermon notes... it was sermon from 2 cor. 5:11-21 (if you want the full sermon notes, let me know... :))
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The second point is the idea of messengers recognizing others not according to the flesh. Because of our relationship with Christ, and being ministers, we should have a different view than we had before we knew Christ.
What this means is that we shouldn't evaluate people the way the world evaluates people. We should be able to see things from a different perspective than what the world is used to.
This could be compared to putting on a lens - or glasses. (at this point, i take off my glasses...) When i'm not wearing my glasses, I see things differently and a lot blurrier. It takes an effort on my part, though small, in this case, to put on my glasses. I choose to see things differently by putting them on. (at this point, i put them back on) In the same way, we have to choose to see things according to God's perspective and not the world's perspective. We must choose to use God's measuring stick instead of the world's. We must choose the proper perspective.
However, this perspective we take is not only to view others, but should also be used when we view ourselves. We need to have a proper perspective of ourselves.
Some of you may have to work with me on this one. I have, what i like to call, a skinny mirror at home (i actually brought the mirror to class and was holding it at this point)... this mirror, because of its shape, presents a more favorable image to me than other mirrors i have looked into before. Also, becuase of the angle at which it sits, the image is even better than that. Plain english - it makes me look taller and skinnier than i probably am...
A lot of times this can be a problem in my perspective of myself. A lot of times, i choose to use the world's measuring stick instead of God's on myself. Paul urges the Corinthians not to recognize others according to the world. I think we need to be careful not to recognize ourselves according to the flesh, as well.
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The second point is the idea of messengers recognizing others not according to the flesh. Because of our relationship with Christ, and being ministers, we should have a different view than we had before we knew Christ.
What this means is that we shouldn't evaluate people the way the world evaluates people. We should be able to see things from a different perspective than what the world is used to.
This could be compared to putting on a lens - or glasses. (at this point, i take off my glasses...) When i'm not wearing my glasses, I see things differently and a lot blurrier. It takes an effort on my part, though small, in this case, to put on my glasses. I choose to see things differently by putting them on. (at this point, i put them back on) In the same way, we have to choose to see things according to God's perspective and not the world's perspective. We must choose to use God's measuring stick instead of the world's. We must choose the proper perspective.
However, this perspective we take is not only to view others, but should also be used when we view ourselves. We need to have a proper perspective of ourselves.
Some of you may have to work with me on this one. I have, what i like to call, a skinny mirror at home (i actually brought the mirror to class and was holding it at this point)... this mirror, because of its shape, presents a more favorable image to me than other mirrors i have looked into before. Also, becuase of the angle at which it sits, the image is even better than that. Plain english - it makes me look taller and skinnier than i probably am...
A lot of times this can be a problem in my perspective of myself. A lot of times, i choose to use the world's measuring stick instead of God's on myself. Paul urges the Corinthians not to recognize others according to the world. I think we need to be careful not to recognize ourselves according to the flesh, as well.
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so then, the song - is a song by Barlow Girl. i've never really listened to their music, but after hearing this song and looking at a few other lyrics on their website, i may just have to buy the cd - or ask for it for christmas...
Mirror - Barlow Girl
Mirror, Mirror on the wall; Have I got it?
'Cause Mirror you've always told me who I am
I’m finding It’s not easy to be perfect
So sorry, you won’t define me
Sorry, you don’t own me
Chorus:
Who are you to tell me
that I’m less than what I should be?
Who are you? Who are you?
I don’t need to listen
to the list of things I should do
I won’t try; I won’t try
You don’t define me; You don’t define me
Mirror I am seeing a new reflection
I’m looking into the eyes of He who made me
To Him I have beauty beyond compare
I know He defines me
Chorus
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i found the notes from the artists on why they wrote the song - and i found them to match up with all the other stuff, so i decided to post them, too...
Mirror
It’s very hard in this day and age to be content with how we look. Everywhere we look, from magazines, movies, and music videos, we are constantly reminded that we don’t measure up. We aren’t as tall, skinny, muscular, beautiful, or perfect as we should be. The mirror reminds us that we don’t measure up with the images of others.
We girls became more and more discouraged because we didn’t like what we saw in our mirrors. We wanted to know: "Who defines what good looks really are?", "Who decides how tall and skinny we should be?", "Who says that blond is better than brown, and full lips are better than small lips?", "Who makes all these guidelines that we’re expected to follow to be 'in'?" Instead of asking God why He made us look and act the way we are, we were tormented by our own mirrors. God showed us that He made everyone look different for a reason, and we could learn to be excited about how He had made us. We realized that we would never be happy until we ignore what our mirrors say, and allow God to show us who we really are in Him.
Mirror
It’s very hard in this day and age to be content with how we look. Everywhere we look, from magazines, movies, and music videos, we are constantly reminded that we don’t measure up. We aren’t as tall, skinny, muscular, beautiful, or perfect as we should be. The mirror reminds us that we don’t measure up with the images of others.
We girls became more and more discouraged because we didn’t like what we saw in our mirrors. We wanted to know: "Who defines what good looks really are?", "Who decides how tall and skinny we should be?", "Who says that blond is better than brown, and full lips are better than small lips?", "Who makes all these guidelines that we’re expected to follow to be 'in'?" Instead of asking God why He made us look and act the way we are, we were tormented by our own mirrors. God showed us that He made everyone look different for a reason, and we could learn to be excited about how He had made us. We realized that we would never be happy until we ignore what our mirrors say, and allow God to show us who we really are in Him.
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1 comment:
living in a society that judges us by our looks is not always the most fun. there are movies, tv shows, and music videos portraying people who are supposedly perfect. you can browse the self help isle at any bookstore and find a gazillion books on the topic ranging from living with your body style, to the latest on diet fads, to how to make your body work for you. with so many mixed views on this subject no wonder so many teens are so uncomfortable living in their own skin and learning how to be who God intended them to be. it's something we're introduced to at such a young age and i don't necessarily know that it ever goes away because we're always forced to look at billboards, newspaper ads, and commercials containing models who are so airbrushed and unnatural that somewhere along the way we start thinking that it's "natural." it's hard to find people in hollywood who haven't had some type of plastic surgery or enhancement, yet we continue thinking how amazing they look. how are we suppose to show teenage girls especially that they are beautiful and it has nothing to do with their outward appearance, but merely their heart? how are we to keep ourselves from thinking just as other millions of americans think? we should turn our eyes away from their views and straight to Christ, but i think all too often we forget.
1 peter 3:3-5
"your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. instead, it should be that of your inner self , the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight. for this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful."
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