Audience of One

11-16-2010

Audience of One by Boyd Bailey


“I love the Father and do exactly what my Father has commanded me.” John 14:31b

I struggle playing to an audience other than Almighty God. I create an unnecessary tension by asking myself, “What will they think? How will they respond?” Yet the heart of Jesus asks, “What does my heavenly Father want? How can I obey Him with my whole heart?” It is an audience of one with my heavenly Father that requires my focus.

So I ask myself, “Whom do I love more?” Do I love my savior more, or do I love the praise of people more? If I truly love the commendation of Christ more than the approval of people then I will obey His commands, even when I am misunderstood and mistreated. A life that loves God longs to grow in a relationship that faithfully follows His ways.

But there is a caution to not become proud about our obedience. In a distorted way a disciplined life can play into impressing people instead of pleasing God. It is false humility to be proud of our humility and wish others could attain our level of maturity. False humility on the stage of life acts out its spirituality for the world’s accolades.

“These rules, which have to do with things that are all destined to perish with use, are based on merely human commands and teachings. Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence” (Colossians 2:22-23). True humility seeks only to deflect glory back to God’s glory.

However—when all is said and done—living for an audience of one insists on intense intimacy with Jesus Christ, so that we naturally follow His lead. It is like an eloquent dance rendition, where He leads and we follow. Some steps are new and awkward, while other moves are comfortable and unconscious. If we dance with Jesus before others, He will amuse them most, as He leads us into His will. True humility follows Christ’s lead.

Lastly, learning to live for an audience of one means to give away recognition and resist taking credit. For example at work give the team credit for success and take responsibility for failure. At home quietly serve behind the scenes without a worry about who gets the recognition for the house chores. Most of all minister for Christ’s kingdom, so your kingdom fades away and His becomes full center. An audience of one pleases the One.

Joseph revealed his devotion to an audience of one with the Lord when he declared, “How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God” (Genesis 39:9b)?”

Do I live unashamedly for an audience of one? What competing audience can I dismiss?

Related Readings: 2 Chronicles 32:12; Isaiah 65:16; John 17:1-5; Colossians 2:18