Let's Get Our Gaze Out Of Ourselves and Onto Christ!
na·vel-gaz·ing
ˈnāvəl ɡāziNG/
noun
- self-indulgent or excessive contemplation of oneself or a single issue, at the expense of a wider view.
Satan's fall had everything to do with his excessive contemplation of himself.
Take a look at the way he speaks in Isaiah 14:12-14
"How are you fallen from heaven, O Day Star, son of Dawn!
How are you cut down to the ground,
you who laid the nations low!
You said in your heart,
'I will ascend to heaven:
above the stars of God
I will set my throne on high;
I will sit on the mount of assembly
in the far reaches of the north;
I will ascend above the heights of the
clouds;
I will make myself like the Most High.
We too are in jeopardy of falling out of fellowship with God and others when we continually focus on ourselves, at the expense of a wider view of the church and the church's mission.
So often people get wrapped up in their daily lives that they don't even realize that they are only gazing at themselves and thinking about themselves and how everything or everyone they encounter effects/affects their lives.
" Satan fell because he was oriented around self, not serving and loving others."
~ Rande Greene
Navel gazing produces more and more self centeredness and prevents one from being able to interact and love the Body of believers around them.
How can we break away from navel gazing, which is our human propensity?
By taking a look at the life of our Savior. Jesus was COMPLETELY self giving. He literally gave His life away!
Everything from Jesus gave and gives life! What about our lives?
Are we focused on giving or receiving from others? Are we self introspective to a fault, allowing ourselves to wallow in our own difficulties and refusing to see that everyone around us is struggling as well?
Much like the prophet Elijah, who ran in fear after calling down fire from heaven and was convinced that God had left him all alone. NOT SO!
Romans 11:2-4
Do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he appeals to God against Israel? "Lord, they have killed your prophets, they have demolished your alters, and I alone am left, and they seek my life." But what is God's reply to him? "I have kept for myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal."
Comparison is a NASTY vile trap of the devil. When we compare our lives to the lives of those around us we tend toward self glorification so that we feel justified in our own frustrations and tendencies.
But God would have us compare ourselves to Jesus, where we find that we are miserably inadequate at best and in the finding we realize our utter need and dependance on His goodness and our lack there of.
Comparing ourselves to our former selves is another means by which we can gain insight into our own lives without setting ourselves against those around us.
When we keep our focus on Jesus and what He has done and IS doing in our own hearts then we are free to love and serve others without entering in to the life sucking, navel gazing swamp of self idolatry.
Romans 12 gives us clear insight into a life of self sacrifice and commitment to a wider view that lends to the building up of the Body of Christ.
Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil;
hold fast to what is good.
Love one another with brotherly affection.
Outdo one another in showing honor.
Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit,
serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope,
be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.
Contribute to the needs of the saints
and seek to show hospitality.
Bless those who persecute you; bless and DO NOT curse them.
So let's get our eyes on Jesus the author and perfector of our faith and leave them there! Let's gaze at His beauty and stop looking at our own lives with him in our peripheral view, but lets gaze head long into His glory and worth in order to know ours, which is Him!
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