Seeds For Thinking

Link: http://seedsforthinking.oldgleaner.com/

Scripture: Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!” So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them. (Acts 3:4-5, NIV)

Look at me!
Often followed by, “When I am talking to you!” There are times when we want someone’s direct attention, and eye to eye contact is essential for communication to take place, or to be acknowledged.
Peter obviously had something more in mind than dropping coins in the beggar’s alms cup. The man gave them his attention. Through the name of Jesus Christ, Peter and John gave him something he never had - the ability to walk.
The phrase “Look at me!” is loaded with meanings, though, and really doesn’t tell us much unless it is put into context. It can be used as an exclamation (look here!) used to call attention to what one is going to say, as I have shown. It can be used as a statement of authority, or to establish communication. “To look” can mean to take heed, to perceive, to behold, to see, to regard, to examine, to investigate. We might look up to someone, to have a great deal of respect for them. Often actions or adornments speak louder than the actual words: The showoff, deliberately attracting attention. The ‘fashionista,’ enrobed in all the latest styles and ornamentation, and, these days, inked skin from top to toe. There is a word for behavior characterized by vulgar or pretentious display: ostentatious, meaning “designed to impress or attract notice.”
Jesus spoke against such practices by the Pharisees of His day:
"Everything they do is for show. On their arms they wear extra wide prayer boxes with Scripture verses inside, and they wear robes with extra long tassels. And they love to sit at the head table at banquets and in the seats of honor in the synagogues. They love to receive respectful greetings as they walk in the marketplaces, and to be called 'Rabbi.'
But He passed on this advice to His disciple, and those who would follow in His footsteps: Don't let anyone call you 'Rabbi,' for you have only one teacher, and all of you are equal as brothers and sisters. (Matthew 23:5-8, New Living Translation (©2007)
I wondered if there is a record of Jesus using the phrase, “Look at Me!” in the gospels, much as Peter and John sought the attention of the lame man. Though I found no written record of such, I can imagine Him asking for attention, and eye to eye contact, prior to healing someone. Never-the-less, consider these two examples from scripture, seeking to establish communication, from a petitioner, and as a statement of authority from God:

O look upon me, and have mercy on me: give thy command to thy servant, and save the son of thy handmaid. (Psalm 86:16)

Look to me, and be you saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else. (Isaiah 45:22)
(Text: American King James Version)

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* Pomposity
* Scripture: Paul wrote, "Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves." Philippians 2:3, KJV

Pomposity! Oooh; That's a nice, big word! Think ostentatious; think vainglory; well, think showy.
The tune played at graduation exercises, and other ceremonial and festival events, is called "Pomp and Circumstance," to give you a better feel for the image of the word. Dignitaries, public officials, royalty and their retinues. Splendor; a show of magnificence.
Puffed up words to show a puffed up attitude - pomposity!
We use the word glory often in reference to God, and rightfully so. We confess, in The Lord's Prayer, the kingdom, power, and glory that is rightfully His. Worshipful praise, honor, and thanksgiving is an appropriate use of the word 'Glory' when speaking of God.
But what a different meaning we get simply by adding the word vain in front of glory, as it appears in the King James Bible. The word in the Greek language (translated as "vain") can have several possible meanings, including empty, fruitless, ineffectual, and - I like this - empty- handed!
Paul had ample opportunity to observe pomp and magnificence. Luke records that King Agrippa and Bernice arrived to hear Paul with "great pomp," accompanied by high ranking officers and prominent men of the city of Caesarea. (Acts 25:23)
Paul used the opportunity to proclaim Jesus to all who were listening, from the king and governor to the lowest servant.
Paul was serving, and had support from, a much higher authority than earthly kings and governors. He had respect for their office, but apparently was not in awe of their pomposity. Paul, as did Peter and the other Apostles, followed the example of Jesus, who also faced governors and kings confident that God stood with them.
I think that Paul understood that kings are all about pomp and splendor. We expect royalty to be, well, magnificent. But not Christians. And that's what caught Paul's attention in the Church at Philippi - pomposity!
Christ 'emptied' Himself to become a servant of others (the Incarnation.) And right there, in Christ's Church in Pilippi, Paul found strife and vainglory.
All the gold in the world is worthless in heaven. Earthly pomp and majesty pales to nothing before The Glory of the Throne. Vainglory - Don't get caught empty handed!
January 22. 2006

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Scripture: John the Baptist said, “I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God.” John 1:34, NIV

Back in the days when I was more inclined to wear a necktie, I actually wore one to the Ohio State Fair. I wore it because I was representing a state organization that was sponsoring an award through the 4-H program. After the ceremony, I decided to just continue to wear the tie, rather than either go back to the car, or take it off and stuff it in a pocket. The results were unexpected - but logical! People just don’t wear neckties to the Ohio State Fair . . . unless you are somebody important. So here I come, strolling through the fairgrounds with a tie. Wow! Got the VIP treatment, everywhere I went. Nothing free, just lots of attention.
It’s not the first time I have been mistaken for somebody important, but it was an interesting experience. I’ve been on the other side, too, when people questioned whether I was who I said I was, and had a right to be where I was. A means of identification can be very handy at times.
It seems that Jesus most often fell into the latter category. People did not know who he was, and often debated hot and heavily about his identity. His very authority to preach, teach, and heal was questioned. Refer to Mark 11:27-33. As usual, Jesus put them on the spot, and they were not able to satisfy their curiosity.
John affirms that Jesus came into the world - from heaven - yet the world did not recognize him. (John 1:10.)
“Who are you?” they asked. (John 8:25) There were no photo ID’s in those days, and Jesus never had an official document with a seal declaring his authenticity. Officialdom never knew what to make of this itinerant teacher from Nazareth. Even Nathanael, who became one of Jesus’ disciples, questioned if anything good could come from Nazareth. (John 1:46.) Yet, upon meeting Him, Nathanael declared, “You are the Son of God, the King of Israel.”
The scriptures are filled with the records of people who, like Nathanael, accepted Jesus as the Son of God. Many others, however, looked at the miracles, and assumed he had to be somebody important. Just as people at the fair weren’t taking any chances on my official-appearing necktie, people meeting Jesus wanted to be on the safe side,even if they didn’t know exactly who he was.
Officialdom considered Jesus to be a ‘nobody’ from the wrong side of the kingdom (Galilee) pretending to be somebody important. Important people looked like . . . like they did! And acted like they did. Jesus didn’t fit their vision of the Messiah, so they did not recognize Him. What were they to do with this ‘impostor’? “Crucify”, they shouted.

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Scripture: Jesus said, "Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into the ditch? Luke 6:39, NKJV

Peer pressure! We tend to think of adolescents when we hear the word, but peer pressure goes far beyond the realm of teenagers. It can be brought to bear on any of us, because a peer is anyone of the same societal group, based on age, grade or status. Unless, of course, you are in Great Briton, where the peerage consists of the ranks of duke, marquess, earl, viscount, or baron.
One's peers have a powerful influence over one's behavior. We don't want to be the odd ball, the 'different' one. In group dynamics, there is a weight, or pressure, that functions in determining acts or choices made in common. As part of a crowd, we tend to go along with the crowd. "When in Rome . . . ."
"Birds of a feather" do indeed flock together, research has shown. It is just natural to want to be among others like ourselves. Our 'feathers' may be clothing, choices in music, favorite leisure activities, or beliefs and tenets. A peer group draws a circle, delineating what is 'In' and acceptable, and what is Not a characteristic 'feather' of inclusion. In some societies, the showing of an unacceptable 'feather' can lead to shunning of the offender - exclusion from fellowship.
I suppose a case could be made that the first example of peer pressure presented in the Bible was Adam's acceptance of Eve's fruity snack. The 'Authority' figure that seeks to sway a group's thinking was certainly there, and 'ole Satan is still in there, taking advantage of the 'follow the leader' syndrome.
One of the most disastrous events in the history of Israel hinged on the elements of the generation gap and peer pressure. King Solomon's successor, Rehoboam, first consulted the elders, who enjoined him to be a servant to the people, and speak good words to them. (1 Kings Ch. 12)
Rehoboam rejected their advice, and instead consulted the young men he had grown up with - his peers!
Their promised heavy yoke and harsh kingship led to a split in the nation, starting the northern ten tribes down the long path to idolatry and eventual dispersement among the nations.
We often stand where Adam and Rehoboam stood: We need to make choices - which can either lead us astray, or strengthen our walk on the right path.
Choose well - a peer group of those who can see clearly God's pathway.
By all means, avoid those who are blind to His Way, lest we follow them into the dark ditch of eternity.
January 15, 2006