Stained-Glass Masquerade

PASSAGE FOR THE DAY:
During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek. (Hebrews 5:7-10, NIV)


REFLECTIONS:
Our Companions in Christ devotions are focused on the topic of submission, not a popular word in a world focused on independence and “what’s in it for me?”  There are several strong messages for me that I share:

“Jesus offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death and he was heard because of his reverent submission.”  

1. Realness of authenticity in our relationship with God. Have you ever judged someone in church that seemed to be “getting carried away”?  I admit that I have and I don’t like that critical spirit in me.  As I look closer that critical spirit is spiced with a little envy for that kind of freedom. “Loud cries and tears” don’t sound very “reverent” to me.  This speaks to me about submission—submitting to be real and vulnerable with God and those around us. I think of the Casting Crowns song “Stained-Glass Masquerade” 

Are we happy plastic people
Under shiny plastic steeples

With walls around our weakness
And smiles to hide our pain

But if the invitation’s open
To every heart that has been broken

Maybe then we close the curtain
On our stained glass masquerade 

2. Submitting the Outcome.  The scripture said Jesus was “heard by the one who could save him from death.”  I can’t help but recognize that Jesus died anyway.  This speaks to me of trusting and surrendering to God’s sovereignty even if the outcome doesn’t match what we think it ought to be.

 

 

POINT OF ACTION AND PRAYER:

I’d like to challenge you to take a moment and be still before our God.  Put away any prayer structures you might have learned. Put away the filters and just be real and vulnerable with God. Tell Him your heart longings, your hurts and hopes.  Just submit to His sovereignty—His bigness, He rules over ALL.  Ask Him to show you areas in your life that you hang on to, that you haven’t given to Him—regardless of the outcome. Can you submit and surrender your fears and your wounds?

 

 

WHO AM I?

I am Cinda Brooks. Today is my ex-husband’s birthday and it reminds me of the deepest, darkest, most wounded and shameful time in my life but no one would have known it.  I lived the Stained-Glass Masquerade.