Dear Family and Friends,

I recently did something for the first time in years. I read a secular book, a bestseller by David Brooks, called How To Know A Person. I was curious to learn about building relationships from a secular point of view.

I’ve since learned this book is not quite secular. Mr. Brooks is a recently converted Messianic Jew.

“No one can fully appreciate their own beauty and strengths unless those things are mirrored back to them in the mind of another. There is something in being seen that brings forth growth.

In how you see me, I will learn to see myself.”  David Brooks, How To Know A Person, 2023.

Being seen brings growth is a great line. But let me add, being seen fills an even greater human need –  gratifying the cravings of our flesh.

“All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath.”  ‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭2‬:‭3‬ ‭NIV‬‬

The Greek word for cravings is epithumia, which means an inordinate desire bordering on addiction.

The Greek word for flesh, sarx, does not refer to our physical bodies. Sarx is the earthly nature of man apart from divine influence; is prone to sin and opposed to God.

Sarx is the self-centered nature of humans. It caused the fall of satan. It’s why we get so wrapped up in chasing and protecting our identity.

Sarx is why most decisions we make and the actions we take start off as selfish in nature.

Our fallen self-centered nature demands to be constantly fed. Being seen is food for a fallen soul.

But wait – verse three says all of us lived (past tense), and we were (again past tense).

Paul is telling us that our self-centered nature is a thing of the past. How is this so?

“But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.

And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.”  ‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭2‬:‭4‬-‭7‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Paul repeats – with Christ – three times. We are alive, raised up, and seated with Christ.

Did you notice Paul continued using words that are past tense?

He was not referring to an event far off in the future – after we die. We have been raised and seated with Christ.

And our sins have been covered – all because of His kindness – love in action. For Jesus, it was an extremely costly and painful, yet selfless action.

And because of His kindness, Jesus lives in us – the selfless nature of Jesus took the place of our selfish human nature.

So, now that we are alive in Christ, what traits become the basis for our new identity? How are we to see ourselves?

We see ourselves at rest and at peace.

The tiring endless pursuit of our identity is now over. David Brooks wrote, “In how you see me, I will learn to see myself.” In how Jesus sees us, we are learning to see ourselves. 

We see ourselves living in contentment.

We now know that everything we have is a gift. Gifts that are more than we deserve, and all we need.

We see ourselves no longer looking down on others.

Being free of our self-absorption, we no longer have to push others down to lift ourselves up. Furthermore, when all we are and all we have are gifts, we have no basis to boast.

We see ourselves able to forgive others.

We forgive because we’ve been forgiven. We are free of our pride, the stumbling block to forgiveness.

We see ourselves giving grace and love towards others.

Being the beneficiaries of grace and love moves us to being kind like Jesus.

Lastly, we see ourselves so filled with gratitude, our lives become a life long joy-filled quest to worship the Father and share His Son Jesus with everyone who will listen.

In love always,