Last week I watched a romantic comedy with my wife that contained a rare admission of truth on the world’s stage (a.k.a. movie screens). Jennifer Lopez and Owen Wilson are oddly paired as a math teacher and superstar diva. They find themselves impossibly matched up in very strange circumstances. It was predictable in all the ways you want a rom-com to be, but I couldn’t help but notice part of the message that was coming through, which is:
Obscurity is something good.
Even when you are at the height of fame and fortune, you will long for some anonymity. You will seek real (not digital) relationships marked by honesty where people talk face to face.
This stood out to me because we focused last Sunday on adopting the posture of obscurity in which Jesus walked.
Obscurity can be defined as: being unknown, inconspicuous and unimportant to the world. While that is true, it also includes being seen, known and loved by God.
Our Focus is on Pleasing God.
As followers of Jesus we aren’t trying to put ourselves down in some gross display of false humility. Our aim is to be more focused on pleasing God and living from the place of his unconditional love as His sons and daughters. Obscurity in a Christian context means not running after the applause of this world, but instead, being content to stay out of the 24-hour news cycle.
We don't choose obscurity in a desire to limit God doing great things in and through us; we just choose to live to serve God without trying to grab headlines.
Greatness and Obscurity aren't mutually exclusive.
Jesus proved that both greatness and obscurity can be part of our journey. He walked through this life in such a way that he wasn't seeking attention from others. In fact, when the people grabbed Him and tried to make Him their king, He slipped away in the crowd. (John 6:15). He asked his disciples not to tell others that He is the Messiah . (Mark 8:30). Jesus moved away from the world’s spotlight, while confidently knowing fully that He is God’s loved son.
God’s plan for the Messiah was always going to be an organic flight under the radar. Even the prophesy in Isaiah 53:2 tells us that Jesus would have “no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.” Jesus’ plan was never to be a political leader or a superstar in the first century.
His calling was to defeat the works of the devil, to preach the good news of the Kingdom, to the heal the sick, raise the dead, and live a life that we could imitate.
Identity to Obscurity to Ministry.
- Jesus’ identity is articulated by God at His baptism as God’s loved son even before He did anything to earn or deserve God’s love. (Matt. 3).
- The Holy Spirit leads Jesus into the wilderness where He fasts and spends time with His Heavenly Father in obscurity, where His identity is seared deep into His soul as He is strengthened in the desert. This prepares Him for what comes next. (Matt. 4)
- Jesus has the strength to stand up when tempted by the devil and has the clarity and Holy Spirit power to move out into ministry. (Matt. 4)
This flow from revelation of our identity to obscurity to ministry is what I long to experience.
As Jesus followers, He is constantly speaking to us and building our true identity within us. When lies are uncovered in our hearts about who we truly are, God brings truth by the Holy Spirit to our mind and heart. These are important “breakthrough” moments.
Obscurity is the posture found in slowing, silence, solitude and sabbath. As we practice these spiritual disciplines and postures rich in hearing God speaking to us, our identity as a loved son or daughter of God goes deeper. Spending time “offline” from the world quiets the noise and competing voices so we can hear and sense God’s voice more clearly.
After having times of refreshing, rest and refocus with God, we are positioned to do great things for God by loving others in extraordinary ways and bringing His presence and Kingdom to every sphere of influence in our life. This place of resting (not striving) as God’s beloved sets us up for a healthy mindset in ministry and serving.
Processing Pain in Obscurity Leads to Healing.
So many of us run to social media to process painful moments in our journey before we take our pain to Jesus for His comfort, healing and grace. While reading the comments people make in response to your crisis post provides some sense that you aren’t alone in your situation, even the noise of “well-wishing” can drown out the voice of Jesus and those who are closest to you. I’m concerned that when we process our pain first with the digital world, we get enough comfort to stuff the pain back down and not actually grieve our loss and to process it in a healthy way. Suppressed grief is like standing on a beach ball in the pool: at some point it’s going to come up to the surface and hit you in the face, and you just can’t predict when that will happen.
Obscurity Isn’t Isolation.
It is an invitation into the quiet place where Jesus received clarity in His calling and power to move out and bless others in ministry. Silent moments are clear space for God to meet us and prepare us to do His will. They are times with God where we are strengthened.
Walking in this posture of obscurity also leads us to a weekly rhythm of spending one hour with one friend talking about the real issues of life. Some have said that an honest conversation with a close friend when you are struggling can be as powerful and helpful as a counseling appointment.
Who can you begin to chat with who will help you process and pray with you for God’s power and ability to walk with Jesus?
If you want to hear more of this teaching on the posture of obscurity (click here).
I look forward to seeing you at our Sunday Worship Service in the Dome, beginning at 10:00 a.m.
You can also live stream our 10:00 a.m. service on Facebook and YouTube.
Need encouragement? Text the word Encourage to 530.296.3689 to receive an encouraging scripture or quote from me several times a week that is sent right to your phone.
Leaders and potential leaders: you can text Lead to 530.296.3689 to receive a thought, quote, or a challenge from me several days a week regarding leadership.
