I recently finished reading Amazing Grace: the Life of John Newton and the Surprising Story Behind His Song by Bruce Hindmarsh and Craig Borlase. Among the fascinating facts this well-researched book offers is that John Newton wrote his autobiography anonymously to share the truth without becoming the spotlight. A later book, Twenty-six Letters on Religious Subjects, was published under the Greek word Omicron, because "Christ was the Omega, or large O in Greek, but John was simply Omicron, the smaller o." Hindmarsh states eloquently, "You don't celebrate a monument: you celebrate what it points to."
A powerful preacher, sermon- and hymn-writer, with an incredible conversion story, Newton might have capitalized on his assets. Instead, he served his churches and communities with the humble heart of a true pastor, going the extra mile as few others would, never forgetting the grace poured out on him by a merciful and loving God.
The point of this post for us as inspirational writers is this: how do we see ourselves? Do we seek to be celebrated for the gifts or testimonies God has given us, or do we seek to use our gifts and stories for His glory alone? Do we long for name recognition or to make His name famous?
God's Word is emphatic that He abhors pride and values humility.
James 4:6 says, "...God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." Verse 10 adds, "Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you."
Colossians 3:2 says, "Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth." A parallel scripture, "Store up not for yourselves treasures on earth... but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven..." (Matthew 6:19-20).
We have a tendency to want our work to be read and for all our effort to be rewarded. Is our motive God- or self-centred? Are we focused on flesh or spirit? Do we want our work to be read because it points people to Him or because we think it's a good story? Just thinking out loud here...
Psalm 25:9 says, "He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble His way."
Let Psalm 86:11 be our prayer today:
Teach me your ways, O Lord,
that I may live according to your truth!
Grant me purity of heart,
so that I may honour you.
May He be both our Alpha and Omega as He becomes more and we become less. May the name that matters most to us be His.
_______________________
For more about Susan Barclay and her writing, please visit www.susan-barclay.blogspot.com.
I never knew that the small "o" is called Omicron, so I'm delighted to learn something new! And I completely agree that everything we say and do should point to God, not to ourselves.
ReplyDeleteThank you, dear Susan, for this intriguing post about our Alpha and Omega. How amazing that one of the most famous hymn writers wrote about his life anonymously. It's so opposite of today's platform obsessed publishing world.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful testimony of humble living and faithful writing for God's glory.
Blessings.
What a great reminder of our purpose.
ReplyDeleteThanks Susan for the challenge and reminder. We must seek God's glory, not our own.
ReplyDeleteThis is such a convicting post. Thank you. I am keeping these questions in mind: "Do we seek to be celebrated for the gifts or testimonies God has given us, or do we seek to use our gifts and stories for His glory alone? Do we long for name recognition or to make His name famous?" Blessings.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Susan. The battle ever before us between spirit and flesh is something to prayerfully consider every time we take pen in hand. Thankful for this reminder and for the small o lesson.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Susan, for a refreshing post. This reads like an Ode to our Lord Jesus!!
ReplyDelete