"To Prove or Not To Prove"

There was a little boy named Johnny who used to hang out at the local corner market. The owner didn't know what Johnny's problem was, but the boys would constantly tease him.They would always comment that he was two bricks shy of a load, or few fries short of a happy meal or something like that. To prove it, sometimes they would offer Johnny his choice between a nickel (5 cents) and a dime(10 cents) and Johnny would always take the nickel - they said, because it was bigger.

 One day after Johnny grabbed the nickel, the store owner took him aside and said, "Johnny, those boys are making fun of you. They think you don't know the dime is worth more than the nickel. Are you grabbing the nickel because it is bigger, or what? 

Slowly, Johnny turned toward the store owner and a big grin appeared on his face and he said,"Well, if I took the dime, they'd stop doing it, and so far I have saved $20.00!

Johnny is my kind of kid! He didn't have to prove anything... What about the rest of us?

I believe our modern culture has taught us to be defensive. We always feel like we have something to prove. Most of us, unlike little Johnny, lack the capacity to take harsh words from critics. The trouble is, we listen to critics, and begin to get distracted by wondering if what they are saying is right, or by attempting to "put them in their place" when we know they're wrong. That's what WE do... but how did Jesus handle critics?

At the cross, skeptics said, "If you're the son of God, come down from the cross." (Matt 27:14) His reaction? He refused to let their comments intimidate him or to change his plans. He didn't need their approval, he already had his father's approval! "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased" (Matt 3:17) 

Jesus didn't waste time answering His critics. "Jesus made no reply, not even a single charge - to the great amazement of the governor" (Matt 27:14). Jesus didn't respond to critics. Do you know what he did respond to? He responded to hunger. You may know the story. When the crowd had been with him all day he fed them... ALL 5,000 of them (plus women and children)! He responded to needs, he responded to seekers, he responded to the little children, but never to the critics. 

Jesus didn't focus on the past, he focused on the future. Think about it... his mother was pregnant with him before she was married. Only a few people knew the truth! Jesus grew up with this, but he didn't feel the need to explain his past to everyone.

Neither should you... Stop complaining about growing up poor, or limited education, or business failures, or about people who've let you down. Stop advertising your pain and meditating on your flaws. All of us are challenged in some way. "Remember you are not the former things, don't even consider your past. Behold, I will do a New Thing." (Isa 43:18-19) 

You don't have to prove a thing. God knows you and loves you. So keep taking the nickels and build up the life that God has planned for you.