As a Worship team this year we have been sitting around the theme of ‘Hidden Excellence.’ This theme comes out of a heart to see our team grow in those areas of our lives not seen on a platform or heard in a service.
Jesus talks in great length about hidden places of the human life and in the Book of LukeHe has a tough conversation with the Pharisees.
Luke 10:15-18
“Jesus went on to make these comments:
‘If you’re honest in small things, you’ll be honest in big things; If you’re a crook in small things, you’ll be a crook in big things. If you’re not honest in small jobs, who will put you in charge of the store?
No worker can serve two bosses: He’ll either hate the first and love the second Or adore the first and despise the second. You can’t serve both God and the Bank.’
When the Pharisees, a money-obsessed bunch, heard him say these things, they rolled their eyes, dismissing him as hopelessly out of touch.
So Jesus spoke to them: “You are masters at making yourselves look good in front of others, but God knows what’s behind the appearance. What society sees and calls monumental, God sees through and calls monstrous.”
The religious leaders of Jesus’ day were masters of ‘looking good’ on the outside! They had nailed righteousness down to a ‘cool’ fashion statement and they knew exactly just how to ‘wear it’ so that others could admire.
But the reality of what was going on underneath the surface was quite different, in fact, completely opposite to what was being shown. And Jesus isn’t fooled by their public appearance. You could say they were Zombies wearing Gucci. Dead on the inside, but dressed up to look alive.
This passage brings to light a powerful truth; God sees more than just our actions, and appearances. God sees more than what we offer in a public space.
He sees our motivations, our heart, and our hidden lives. And it is by these hidden places that our lives assessed.
The theme of ‘heart’ health is found all through out scripture, both Old and New, and each passage builds a strong case for the careful inspection and upkeep of our hearts. Take a read of these in your own time: Proverbs 4:23, Psalm 51:10, Psalms 26:2, Matthew 5:8, Luke 6:45, Proverbs 23:26, & Jeremiah 17:10
The Wizard of Oz is a great example of a man who hides behind a facade, putting on a strong and powerful public appearance, when in fact cowering behind the curtain was a very insecure man. It’s not until that man is pulled out from behind the curtain that the healing begins.
So I want to ask, that with our hidden lives in mind, could we do a careful inspection?
I pray that we could be a Worship Team that takes an honest look at ourselves and weighs our thoughts, intentions and motives honestly.
How do you respond to the following:
-What motives you to serve on this team?
-Is your hidden life complimentary too, and reflective of the public life you show others?
-Is there a dissonance between what you let people see and what’s going on in your heart?
If you just easily answered ‘Yes’ to question 2, and ’No’ to question 3, then well done you’re a ‘Super Christian!’ haha! But if like me, your answers aren’t ‘perfect christian answers’ then that’s actually not a problem, and please don’t feel condemned. In fact, feel comforted by the fact that you’re surrounded by a team of people just like you. People working through and sorting out the conflicting areas of their lives.
You see, we’re not a team of perfect ‘super christians’ but rather we’re a team of imperfect people who don’t hide these facts, who respond to these questions with a heart desperate for God to work in us!
I hope that kicking off this conversation on our Team Nights has started a deeper journey for you developing and cultivating your hidden lives before God…
Stay tuned for more instalments on the ‘Hidden Excellence’ theme.