Wax on Wax off

Mark Twain quipped, “Under certain circumstances, urgent circumstances, desperate circumstances, profanity provides a relief denied even to prayer.” One thing that makes Mark Twain’s writing classic and relevant is his audacity to express what many have felt. But he says it in such a way that we laugh at ourselves.

At the same time, his quip above is serious business. Take for example the times we want to hit something or someone because of what life has thrown at us. When we hear the condemning judgment of cancer pronounced over us or a loved one. When one financial blow after another persistently takes out every support beam we cling to. When tempers flare and relationships are destroyed over a simple misunderstanding.

In times like these, I hear Jesus’ instructions in Matthew 5 return to me and force me to get in line with them. I say force because a part of me is saying, “I don’t want to go through this again. I’m tired.” I bristle over the interruptions. I want to be doing something else. I have plans and goals that are not making progress. Then I remember my biggest goal. I want to change so I am more like my master—Jesus. And like in the movie Karate Kid, these wax on/wax off moments are training me:

• My will needs to be broken. When I rise up in anger, judgment, or rebellion; I keep God’s grace from ministering to my situation.
• My heart needs to be aligned with the Lord’s and grieve for how sin continues to rob, steal and destroy. This grief is not a pity party where I feel sorry for myself. This grief creates more breaking of the will and repentance with the added element of intercession for the effect sin has in this world.
• My knees must bend in surrender to what Jesus wants to do in me and in the situation and then be strengthened to walk out His plan. My strength profits nothing except maybe the praises of people around me. The only opinion of me that matters is Jesus’ thoughts.
• My focus must be fixed on His kingdom and righteousness. He can do wondrous things when I pursue His kingdom and righteousness and not my own.
• My words and actions need to express love and concern for the best interest of others. I can’t afford to slather healing balm on my bruised ego when all around me people are suffering and dying—especially if I am the one who wounded them.
• My inner motives must be void of personal gain, pleasure or satisfaction of any sort. A precious gift becomes a putrid offering if the receiver senses a hidden, selfish motive behind it. I must let the love be genuine and complete from the throne of God through me.
• My spirit must be at peace and spread peace to others. Jesus defined His kingdom as righteousness, peace, and joy. When I am the peacemaker—connecting the troubled to the Prince of peace, I am made to enjoy these.

It is easy to put on a good front and deceive self and others that all is fine. One might be highly successful with it and can help others do the same. But it is not the spreading on of the wax that creates the shine. Spreading the wax is easy, too. Rubbing it off (applying the Word and allowing it to change us from the inside out) is the real work. Only then do we shine in the sight of the Lord first and then to those around us.