The "tiger" here is our image, and boy does it need taming. We are constantly trying to impress those around us. Just look at what we drive, what we wear, and how we live. What about trying to impress God? Or ourselves? This desire to maintain an image is a beast. It's a tiger that roars. It cannot be overcome, only tamed.
Our source is Jesus Christ. As the Author of truth, He reveals the truth about you and me. The truth is that we are big-time sinners struggling to hold on. Brennan Manning uses the term "ragamuffin" to describe us in his powerful book, The Ragamuffin Gospel. The truth is that we are absolutely nothing without Christ, so who are we trying to fool? The amazing grace is when we realize Christ accepts us and loves us more than we can comprehend despite all the junk we bring to the table. This is the Good News of the Gospel.
Trying to maintain an image and impress others around us is a rejection of the Gospel. It's an attempt to say, "Look at me, I'm doing just fine without the saving grace of Christ." No one is doing fine without Christ. In fact Scripture says just the opposite and that we are perishing without Him. Look around, most refuse to accept this truth. They continue fighting an unbeatable opponent. They mask the pain deep within their soul by trying to impress you and me. They find comfort in outward appearance rather than inner peace. It doesn't last though. It's only a temporary fix that will soon unravel.
The only way you and I can tame the tiger of our image is recognizing our desperate need for Jesus Christ daily. At this point, our need to impress goes out the window. It pales in comparison to the complete joy found in knowing Him. As Paul reminds us, "Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ" (Phil 3:8 NLT).
GrantJ
Our source is Jesus Christ. As the Author of truth, He reveals the truth about you and me. The truth is that we are big-time sinners struggling to hold on. Brennan Manning uses the term "ragamuffin" to describe us in his powerful book, The Ragamuffin Gospel. The truth is that we are absolutely nothing without Christ, so who are we trying to fool? The amazing grace is when we realize Christ accepts us and loves us more than we can comprehend despite all the junk we bring to the table. This is the Good News of the Gospel.
Trying to maintain an image and impress others around us is a rejection of the Gospel. It's an attempt to say, "Look at me, I'm doing just fine without the saving grace of Christ." No one is doing fine without Christ. In fact Scripture says just the opposite and that we are perishing without Him. Look around, most refuse to accept this truth. They continue fighting an unbeatable opponent. They mask the pain deep within their soul by trying to impress you and me. They find comfort in outward appearance rather than inner peace. It doesn't last though. It's only a temporary fix that will soon unravel.
The only way you and I can tame the tiger of our image is recognizing our desperate need for Jesus Christ daily. At this point, our need to impress goes out the window. It pales in comparison to the complete joy found in knowing Him. As Paul reminds us, "Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ" (Phil 3:8 NLT).
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