Bumper Sticker Truth

Twice in the last few days this bumper sticker has been brought to my attention.  "Hmm" say I ... a follower of God.  I think I might be offended.  I think I might be hurt at these terrible words of condemnation.  "Yikes" say I ... what is the world coming to that such rhetoric should be displayed for all humanity to read on the back side of a common automobile.

And yet ... I'm struck by the intense honesty in such a statement.  Sometimes, we - followers of God - are hypocritical, passive, judgemental, unloving, self-righteous, demanding, and the list goes on and on.  I, at times, make myself sick!  Is it any wonder that a watching world would display such a bumper sticker about "my kind"?

Because I have to ingest the Word of God to find my center ... to find truth ... I am comforted.  Recently I've started reading a portion of this Book that recalls the story of Israel.  As they are preparing to enter the Promised Land - land they've been wandering the dessert for over 40 years to enter - they are called upon to "purify" themselves.

Because I apply this ancient Book of Truth to my life ... I sense God saying to me to "purify" myself.  Purify, in the simplest sense, what it means to follow God.  If I am to follow, then my rights, demands, preferences should take a back seat to a loving God who is asking me to trust Him for all that I need.  OOoooohhh say I ... follower who tends to want to lead.  And then that's it ... the truth comes out.  I don't want to follow ... I want to lead!  I'm not a leader of God ... I'm a follower!!  Perhaps is back to the basics ... learn to follow not to lead.  And so ... the purifying begins!

walking a journey,
christina