I want to talk about Me

2 Corinthians 5:15 "and he (Jesus) died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.

If you know my oldest son, Cal, you will notice three things about him: 1) he is loud, 2) he is high energy 3) his memory is excellent. At the age of two he could sing entire songs, while most of his peers sucked their pacifiers and looked at him like "What is up with this kid?". Cal also demanded a lot of attention back in those days, and his choice of songs to sing were ironic. His favorite was Toby Keith's, "I want to talk about me." I can vividly remember driving down the road with Cal all of 22 months singing the chorus:

"I want to talk about me, want to talk about I, want to talk about number one, oh my me my, what I think what I want what I see" and then bringing it home with some cranked up "I want to talk bout me!". It still puts a smile on my face as I think back on how much He, and life, has changed in the Stubbs' house. Cal is growing into a jewel of a young man.

When you dig into what could of been called the theme song of Cal's toddler years, it presents a truth for us all to wrestle with. From deep on the inside, there is something in me that wants to talk about and elevate me! We might not say it out loud, but we all think we are worthy to be treated better and known more broadly. Most people think that is just a healthy part of life. But is it? Paul, in 2 corinthians 5:15 above, clearly defines those who live (i.e. - Christ followers) don't live for themselves any more, but rather they live for Christ. I think it safe to say that living for yourself is a pretty good definition of sin and that living to honor and elevate Jesus is what God is after in us. This issue is the multi-millenia battle that has taken place in the souls of men and women of all skin colors and pay grades. Living for yourself is the path of least resistance and comes quite natural as our sin nature and culture can quickly teach us how to manipulate others and God (at least we think) to get what we want. Our sin nature craves for others to serve us. Jesus offers us a chance to see the selfish evil in that and serve Him and others. The walk with Christ includes a repurposed life indeed as we don't need to "talk about me" as we have some one much better to talk about - Jesus!

So look at your calendar and actions form yesterday and today- who did you talk about? Who will you? Whom will you work to elevate? It truly is either Christ or us.

The encouraging thing is that when we elevate Him, his love and grace saturate us and satisfy us like a rain in the desert and it replaces the wrong desires we have with a satisfaction in God!