peeling the onion

some people say the journey with Christ is a lot like peeling an onion… the closer you get to Him, the more the outer onion peels come off of your “old self”— the part that’s selfish and prideful and not so nice. that’s the process of what the Bible calls sanctification, as a person becomes more like Christ. well, if normal sanctification is like peeling an outer skin off, then what we’re experiencing here at discipleship training school is a ripping of sorts. forget the simple pruning that Jesus talks about…we’re talking about serious tree cutting here!! let me elaborate…

i didn’t really think of myself as a very selfish person before i came to new zealand (feel free to disagree ), but while living for a week with my team in very close quarters, i started to wonder if i was but just never noticed it. over thanksgiving week and the week after,  our team went up to the north part of the island for two weeks of teaching and service. during the first week, we stayed in small “cabins” (actually, the cabins were more like rooms you would find in an old church camp which hasn’t been renovated for a few decades)… four of us to a room, regardless of sleeping patterns or tidiness. this was the first time all of our team was together, off the base, for an extended period of time– and without the other schools’ students around to diffuse personality differences.

moreover, if we were late to something on the base, we could be sure someone else was, too, so we could sneak in under the radar, so to speak. not so on our team retreat up north! OH MY! kiwis are the most punctual people on this planet, i am convinced– even more so than the english and germans…my leaders told me that if i’m a couple of minutes late (even to something like breakfast), i am personally dishonoring them. DOUBLE OH MY!!! well, you can imagine that got my american blood pumping quite quickly… the only events we consider it absolutely necessary to arrive exactly on time to are job interviews or one’s own wedding, for goodness’ sake!

i tried to explain to them there was a cultural difference going on here, but my argument was lost on them. submission to authority lesson #1— i must give up my rights to myself for the team’s sake, even if my rights seem reasonable (such as sleeping-in due to chronic fatigue). it doesn’t matter what the reason is– the team always comes before self. what a concept to an american who has always been socialized to think individually! our society is way more individualistic than we realize…we do not think in terms of ‘what is best for the group/team/family’…but ‘what is best for me, and how can i also get that to be the best for everyone else?!’ we think we’re being team players when we convince everyone else our way is right…

Jesus didn’t assert His rights when He was on the earth. He gave them up. God Himself gave up His own rights and humbled Himself unto death for our sakes! He didn’t worry about Himself, because He knew His Father loved Him and would provide everything He needed. He first and foremost knew He was a beloved Son, and He lived out of that knowledge so He never needed His rights to be upheld.

and so i’m finding certain things not affecting me as they would have in the past. giving up my right to time was probably the hardest lesson i’ve had to learn so far, especially being 35 and single…freedom is the greatest gift i can enjoy in this stage of my life. yet the Lord wants even that. why? because He has so much more for me, for all of us. what comes when i give up rights to my time or to anything else? peace, joy, internal freedom that cannot be matched, loving intimacy with the Creator of the Universe…i could go on and on…He always out gives us…i give Him that last five minutes and He gives me Heaven on earth…pretty good deal, eh?!

so, ya, when i’m obedient in little things and spend more time in His presence, other things that used to bother me just fall off. they really do. i can sense in my Spirit that deep things are being expunged and the Holy Spirit is replacing them. it’s as if the onion is not only being peeled from outside, but a heart is also growing from within.

i want to challenge you: whatever God is calling you to obey Him in, do it! if you’re not spending that much time with Him, do it! not because you “should,” but because you have a Heavenly Father who absolutely adores you and longs to have an intimate relationship with you! i can say from personal experience that living in His presence and allowing Him to peel (ok, rip!) my outer layers off is the best thing that has EVER happened to me.

(p.s.– if i’m talking in a foreign language because this Christian thing is totally foreign to you, i challenge you to take a step and just pray to God! nothing fancy, just talk to Him like He is with you right there in the room. He loves you and would love to hear from you!! )

Advertisement