Stage

It as a high school performance at the Hobby Center and my friend Cindy was the director. I had no expectations and was merely going in support to Cindy when Elizabeth asked me if I wanted to come with her. The play was "South Pacific". I have never seen the play, though I have have heard of it for years, so I didn't know the story line. But I will tell you I was blown away by the performance of these young students and the direction and choreography designated by the director It was outstanding.

Shakespeare referred to it in his play "As You Like It": All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players; They have their exits and their entrances, and one man in his time plays many parts."

In theory: if the world is a stage...and you are one of the players, what would you consider your role to be. What character are you playing. I watched those kids last night, and they were in character, they were playing the role that they had trained for. It was not who they really were but merely an imitation of someone else.

In life we too are called to be imitators, to play a role that extends us out of ourselves and casts us into a role that Christ has purposed. He is our director who is in the business of directing. And as we approach our role and step out onto our stage of life.... we have a script (the bible) and we have to learn our lines (put what we know into our minds) and we have to interact with others ( then we have to act it out) and we have to move about with distinction and clarity ( with practice and direction we strengthen our skills).

So who are we to imitate? Christ...we are to be imitators of Christ, think as he thinks, act as he acts, serve as he serves, forgive as he forgives and love as he loved. No matter what stage we are on, or what stage in life we are in....there is only one director who sees a whole picture, knows a whole story and casts us to play the part that is best suited for our ability. It is Jesus Christ. He comes to us with a script but also with the power to transform us into the character that he has envisioned us to be. A character trained, and developed to know his word, seek his will and display his attitude in thought and deed. But in order to be accomplished in our endeavor, Christ, as life director and stage director calls us to practice what we believe, and humbly submit to the teachings that he has recommended so that we are in step with our heavenly proclaimed performance.
1 Thessalonians 1:5-7 because our gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake. You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia.
We are all on stage, being watched and judged and imitated each day by an audience who we do not know personally. But when I consider that the stage I am on is God's appointed platform to display his glory and his story...that changes things a bit for me. For as my performance is being critiqued by others, it is even more importantly being critiqued by Christ. Every move I take and every decision I make is a reflection as to what I believe and stand for. Am I performing for an audience of many or of ONE! When I look at it that way it suddenly becomes simplified. For pleasing my director is doing as he says, acting as he instructed, and trusting in his genuine concern for excellence. What others think becomes dimmed in comparison. Christ, as life director, has a vision that I am only a very small part of. But my character, small as it may be, plays a role of significance in His ultimate storyline to, or for, someone else in a watching audience. We may never know how the roles we play are used to influence others through the Lord. It is our genuine performance unto God that is ultimately credited to our character.

We are many characters on many stages...with many stories....each significantly cast for God's glory on his stage. It is our job to persevere, submit to instruction, and do the best we can do through the power of the Holy Spirit in the roles that have been delegated to us by God and for God. The rest lies in His ultimate ability to use even the least of us for his greater purpose.

May I be so effective in my daily role as a Christian as those students were last night in their wonderful performance.

Dear Lord, Please continue to give us the reassurance that whatever stage you have allowed us to be on, or in, that you will direct us accordingly so that we may we may be glorifying to you in our performance. Amen

Praise God wherever you are and whatever situation He has allowed you to be in . . . His glory will shine through!