series: Exodus series #
verse: Exodus 34:29-35 #
Introduction: #
PJ: “I desire to live a life where people would notice that I carry myself differently because I chose to follow Christ”. But for what purpose do we feel this way? Is it for our own glorification? Are we so obsessed with our image and how others perceive us that it fuels the way that we act?
Main Idea: #
We must become a reflection of Jesus Christ that is genuine and fueled by devotion. Sacrificial and serving of others. Listening carefully. Being careful and patient. But this is extremely difficult. Personally, time and time again, transformation would be temporary because it was for the sake of an external view. But genuine and lasting change can only come from within. People that have truly changed often don’t notice it themselves. Others will notice it for you.
So ask yourself this. Have you been changing quietly? Have you made any effort to live differently and separately from the world? Or do others look at you and go, “There’s no way that person is a Christian”.
Reading of Exodus 34:29-35 When Moses comes back down from Mount Sinai, people notice a physical difference in Moses’ appearance. But it’s not because of any particular that Moses did himself. He simply continued to follow God’s instruction. In the verses, you can actually notice a decline in Moses’ consideration for himself and his actions. There was a disconnect between him and his ego.
What’s up with self improvement? #
There’s been a major trend of self improvement in modern society. We see it in internet trends, a constant push of courses and self improvement courses. And also with cultural fads like “Looks maxing” and the like. But this isn’t true improvement. But true growth is not about constantly improving yourself, but rather forgetting about yourself. Many of our emotional and spirtiual struggles are derived from the human ego. Ego is constantly validating itself and comparing itself to others. It’s continuously trying to prove itself to others. The ego is a painfully overly inflated balloon that’s overflowing and constantly in danger of popping. The path to true freedom is not to have high or low self-esteem. It’s about not having esteem in itself. It’s about self-forgetfulness. Self forgetfulness isn’t achieved by just “forgetting about yourself”, but it’s more about focusing more on God.
We forget ourselves when we become captivated by God’s presence #
Once we are captivate, we will forget ourselves. We can’t achieve this ourselves through sheer will power. Moses was “Talking with God”, which proves that his transformation is derived purely from his conversation and fellowship with the Lord. And it’s important to note that Moses didn’t even notice this transformation himself. That’s how you know it’s genuine and true to his nature.
If you are curious about your character, look towards what captivates you #
Daniel: “My youtube homepage is filled by gaming and food”. When we are seeing something that is beautiful and amazing, we start to desire to become like them as well. We look at influential people and get inspired by them. The reason why Moses forget about himself, is because he was so captivated by God’s presence.
We forget ourselves and we live for God’s mission instead of our own #
Moses’ purpose on the mountain was not to achieve his own purposes. He was called by God to deliver the stone tablets to His people. And this wasn’t an easy task at all. And he was so passionate about the goal, that he didn’t even have a change to think about himself. And when Moses came back down, people were afraid to interact with him. Why was that? It’s because he was so different from them. It’s weird, unfamiliar, and frankly scary.
But you might be wondering, “How come they aren’t amazed and in awe of that instead?”. It’s because the Israelites were being exposed of the condition of their hearts. Moses was a reflection of God’s holiness, and it revealed the sinfulness of the Israelites. They were reminded of how much they had focused on themselves and their own desires instead of the mission of God. They were ashamed of it. But even still, Moses invites them as if he were reflecting God’s mercy on us.
What’s the result of thinking less of ourselves in practice? #
We are filled with more joy and a peace that doesn’t wane. We also prioritize others and consider others much more often than ourselves. Making a true difference in others’ lives. “Our purpose for attending church shouldn’t be self serving or thinking of how we personally benefit. It should be to serve and love on to others. To enjoy the presence of God. To be a part of his mission. And the byproduct is inherently joy and peace.”
We forget ourselves and we repeatedly come to God on the daily #
Psalm 34:33-35 Whenever Moses went to the Lord, he would repeatedly walk to God and seek the Lord. He was already glowing and in the presence of God, but he would still honestly and openly approach the Lord. But it’s important to recognize that you do not have to be a leader to have access to God. Jesus Christ came to this Earth to give us direct access through him, not through another person or leader. The veil was removed completely, and anyone can come before God, as you are, with all your failures, mistakes, and brokenness. Because Jesus fulfilled it all. You don’t have to try hard to feel valuable or loved. By Faith, we are already beloved children of God. We are forgiven and considered righteous.
Routine communion with God is what brings us this true peace. We get to reaffirm that there’s noone to prove ourselves to. There’s no need to compare ourselves to others. Jesus Christ did it all for you. The burden is not on you anymore. This is the good news that we are all holding on. Tim Keller “Humilty is the blessed self forgetfulness that comes from being preoccupied with Christ instead of ourselves”. The more you hold on to the person of Jesus Christ, you become free to simply give, serve, love, and rejoice. When a person understands their identity in Christ, the ego we carry becomes invisible. A life of joy and peace replaces our insecurities and self-conscieousness.
My prayer for all of you is this: that we become truly people that reflect the image of Christ without noticing or realizing. May the holy spirit that dwells within, empower us from the inside out.