It was a castle built in the middle ages and for three days, it was our home in Burgundy, France. Our first meal was in the lower levels of the castle, converted into an elegant dining room. As we traversed down the well-worn and twisting stone steps, the familiar scents of a kitchen greeted us. Reaching the bottom, we entered a commodious room replete with tapestries suspended on the stone walls. Escorted to our table by an immaculately dressed maitre d’ in a tuxedo, we were transported back in time to a far grander era.
The menu was typical Burgundian fare which we were eager to sample. There was also a ribeye steak, procured from the locally raised Charolais cattle. We heard much about this fabled cut of meat and being avid carnivores, were excited to sample it for the first time. About a half hour after we ordered, our steak was brought to the table by the server who expertly carved and parsed it out on our two plates. The server bowed to us, turned to leave, and took the plate that held the now neatly carved and stripped bone. My wife and I stared in horror and we simultaneously exclaimed, “Wait, bring that back!”
The server was confused. “What do you mean, the plate?”
“No, the bone!”
His eyes opened wide as if I had just spit on his face. “Why?”
“That’s the best part!”
Still confused, he asked, “What are you going to do with it?”
Now we were confused. “We’re going to gnaw on it!”
The server brought the bone back and placed it on our table. He was muttering something in French below his breath. We could see some of the other diners snickering at us. Those boorish Americans, they undoubtedly thought. I smiled at my wife, thankful for our recovered prize.
I am usually sensitive to how others perceive me in public, but not this time. When I desire something, any criticism does not stick. I am too preoccupied with my selfish desires to care. What about my spiritual life? Have there ever been times when I have been ashamed of my faith in Jesus Christ?
For whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his glory and that of the Father and the holy angels.
Luke 9:26 (CSB)
There has never been a time when I have been directly asked whether I was a Christian and I did not affirm it. However, there have been many times when my behavior was very un-Christlike and I was a poor ambassador of Jesus Christ. Words and actions are often inseparable. My actions shamed my Lord and Savior but I was preoccupied with my selfish needs to care. It may begin as something small but it can easily escalate. It is a continual reminder how I need to surround myself with dear brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ, who hold me accountable for my errant words and behavior.
Amen!
Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.
The Bereans Blog 