Hold Your Applause
Actors and actresses are a special breed…they love the limelight and they have no fear of the stage or performing before large crowds. These are all things that terrify me, but more power to them. There’s such competition, vying for the next Grammy, Emmy or Oscar award; it has got to be a tiring routine. I sometimes wonder how many of them truly love it or just deal with it because it’s all they know to do.
Francesca Battistelli sings a song ‘He Knows My Name,’ and the chorus of the song says, “I don't need my name in lights, I'm famous in my Father's eyes. Make no mistake, He knows my name. I'm not living for applause, I'm already so adored. It's all His stage, He knows my name.” As an introvert, I can relate to this song, but as believers, we should ALL be able to relate to this song. When we have relationship with the Father, we know that His love for us runs deep…He created us in His image, He loves us even though we mess up daily and He sent His son to die for us so that we could live in eternity with Him. No neon sign necessary, I KNOW He loves me. One of the hardest parts of being a believer is giving up the stage, and by that, I mean control. We like to think we can make things happen on our own, or that we can fix or accomplish life without assistance, but usually we botch it up. When we learn that the stage is His, that He is in control, we can relax and enjoy the show.
1 John 3:1 (MSG) What marvelous love the Father has extended to us! Just look at it—we’re called children of God! That’s who we really are. But that’s also why the world doesn’t recognize us or take us seriously, because it has no idea who He is or what He’s up to.” Sometimes, people get so caught up in the drama of Hollywood that they forget it’s all make believe…a well-written script to entice you into a fantasy land where things that were once accepted are now condemned and the once condemned is now accepted. This verse in 1 John says that world doesn’t recognize us. We have become the enemy because we stand for something that is foreign to them. We must guard ourselves from the wickedness of the world and remember whose we are…children of the King, adored and cared for by the One who grants the highest award.
God IS the nominating committee. There’s no competition…all who love Him and serve Him are up for the award. That’s the only applause or accolade I’m after…a “well done, My good and faithful daughter.”