It’s just Obvious

It’s trash day.  If you were to look around my neighborhood, it’s pretty obvious. When the truck comes down our street, it’s pretty obvious.  Trash trucks are noisy; they are not sneaky in any way.  I know he’s there even if he comes super early and I’m still in bed!  I walked by our upstairs bathroom this morning and noticed a variety of clothing hanging on the towel rack and the shower curtain bar.  The thought, “It’s obvious somebody did laundry last night,” quickly darted through my mind.  One of the sweaters drying in said bathroom is obviously mine.  I have a distinct “look,” and there are just certain pieces of clothing that scream my name.  Do you sense a theme going on?



I read in 1 Thessalonians 5 this morning.  It’s one of those chapters that could make you feel overwhelmed, and not too good at this Princess life and following Jesus.  The thing that struck me this morning wasn’t whether or not I was sufficiently, successfully doing all that is mentioned in the chapter, but whether or not it was obvious that I love God. Is it obvious that I am a Princess of the Creator of the Universe? 

First Thessalonians 5 generates an amazing list of qualities and behaviors that would make it obvious that I am Jesus’ Princess:  Be alert and self-controlled, put on faith and love as a breastplate, put on the hope of salvation as a helmet, encourage one another, build each other up, live in peace with each other, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone, be kind, be joyful always, pray continually, give thanks  in all circumstances  do not put out the Spirit’s fire, test everything and hold on to the good, avoid every kind of evil. It’s an astonishing list!  But I don’t want to just be a list-checker.  I don’t want to live my life always worried about whether or not I’m doing it right.  I do want to be obvious.

I love how God doesn’t leave me hanging in that quandary. I’m thankful that He doesn’t want me to be a list-checker either.  Did you notice that some of the list items, enable you to follow through more easily with other items?  For example, giving thanks in all circumstances.  When I process through a situation that has me overwhelmed, testy, grumpy and not very Princess-like, and find those “silver-lining” elements: things that will strengthen me, teach me more about God’s glory, reveal to me my hidden faults, or precious little surprises and gifts that delight my soul and enable me to keep moving forward, and I am thankful for those elements, God’s Spirit blesses me with joy, peace and the willingness to be kind to others.  Sa-weet!

There are two other things that really reassure me on my journey to being obvious.  They are found at the end of the chapter.  One is a phrase found in verse 23, “May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through.”  God, God HIMSELF, is going to set me apart completely, utterly, totally, inside out.  I don’t have to be a list checker, I get to be a God Lover; I get to be a Princess who loves her Daddy.  The second reassurance I find in verse 24, “The one who calls you is faithful and He will do it.”  I think the Bible should have added an exclamation point at the end of that sentence.  It needs one, don’t you think?  It emphasizes again to me that God is the one doing the work, I’m just following and soaking up His glory.

I know on some days, my love for God, and my desire to reflect His glory is not as obvious as trash day is in our neighborhood.  I am learning, I am growing.  And God has promised that “He will do it.”  How truly thankful I am that He is sanctifying me, that He is faithful and doing what He promised He would do.  I’m following, I’m seeking to be obedient in my every day life, in the every day things I do, and there will be a day when His glory is as obvious on me as the jewelry I wear.  Hallelujah!