I remember when I was in high school, I was chosen to compete for a scholarship to one of the universities I was considering attending. I was extremely nervous when I arrived at the place where they would be conducting an interview. Through this interview process, they would eliminate the majority of the nominees. When my name was called, I walked towards the door to where the interview would take place. As a lady escorted me inside, I saw several more interviewers than I expected. There was a place for me at the head of the long table, and several men and women were seated down each side of it. Their judgment of my performance those next few moments would decide whether or not I would be accepted as a potential finalist. Driven by anxiety and fear, I tried to give them what I thought they wanted to hear. In the end, it was not enough. I did not move on to the next phase of the competition.
We are programmed to perform.
Much of what we do in our lives revolves around some sort of performance. If we do not perform well in school, we get bad grades. If we do not perform well at work, we face consequences such as discipline and possibly even termination. Many of our friends and acquaintances expect us to come through for them in some way. In many church settings, if we are not heavily involved, we feel guilty as others pressure us to do more. We are constantly encouraged or required to perform to a certain degree.
There are different kinds of performances; some healthy, some not so healthy.
A quick search brought me to two separate definitions for the word “performance”. (1) One definition has to do with acting on a stage, in a play, concert, or other form of entertainment. This can also be done informally, when we exaggerate a behavior in order get more attention. (2) The other definition has to do with “carrying out or accomplishing an action, task, or function”.
Unless we are actors on stage, there’s not much room for definition #1 as a healthy part of our lives. As off-stage actors, we fail to be ourselves and constantly try to acquire the praise and acceptance of others. Definition #2 can be a very healthy part of our lives. It’s actually a necessary one in order for us to be productive in our daily tasks and relationships with others.
God wants us to be who He created us to be, not put on an act and try to be someone else.
When God accepts us as His beloved children, He does so by grace through faith. He does not require an interview process in which we need to perform well. He does not require us to be on a certain number of committees in the church. He does not ask that we come through for Him perfectly with proper behavior. Through His unconditional love and acceptance in Christ, we are who He created us to be: saved, holy, citizens of heaven, free from condemnation, chosen, free, accepted, secure, and significant. Our only performance should be definition #2…carrying out our identity in Him, being who we truly are in our everyday lives. When we fail to see this performance in our lives, rather than reverting back to definition #1 and trying to put on an act and fake our way through it, we need only revisit the truths of who He is and who He has created us to be. At times like that, we need to embrace His love and grace to revitalize us and remind us of who we are.
We have no reason to hide behind a mask. The faces He has given us are what this world needs. And its what He loves and desires as well. A good performance is based on trusting Him and being true to who we really are, not trying to please Him or others with a good act.
Thank you for reading my blog today! If you would like to receive email notifications about new blog posts and other announcements, please subscribe below:
Wonderful blog.
Great teaching, a lot of us are still trying through performance, to obtain what Christ has already obtained by way of the cross and wearing masks is just one way that we use to make men believe in us.