Called Out

In our culture, when someone is “called out” it’s usually a direct challenge to some sort of behavior or conversation that is being challenged and confronted. I have been called out and it can be uncomfortable for sure. There’s an important component to being “called out” that make things go sideways.  When I was called out by a close friend regarding something I was missing as a parent, I felt the urge to pushback immediately. Then, in humility, I investigated the issue and was glad that I had taken a humble approach.

I think pride will send the “called out” person sideways. Pride can blind us to our faults, our personal issues, and our needs.

Paul calls out the church in Corinth and it really helped them to grow. Check this out…

⁸ I am not sorry that I sent that severe letter to you, though I was sorry at first, for I know it was painful to you for a little while. ⁹ Now I am glad I sent it, not because it hurt you, but because the pain caused you to repent and change your ways. It was the kind of sorrow God wants his people to have, so you were not harmed by us in any way. ¹⁰ For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. There’s no regret for that kind of sorrow. But worldly sorrow, which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death.  (2 Corinthians 7:8-10 NLT)

There are some important points to these three verses….

1. Short term hurt and pain can bring about positive long-term results.
2. Humility opens the door to repentance and growth, but pride slams the door shut.
3. God wants repentance that brings positive change to our behavior and our thoughts.

It’s important that whenever I’m “called out” that I take the time to lay down my pride and investigate my heart.  In humility, I can hear what the Lord might be trying to teach me to help me grow closer to Him. In humility, people closest to me know that they can show love to me by “calling out” bad behavior or bad actions on my part.

I’m convinced that I’m a stronger person today because close friends, confidants and even co-workers had the courage to “call me out” and I had the humility to receive and process their perspective.

I want to continue to practice repentance daily.

I want to continue to live humbly before the Lord each day of my life.

I want to keep my pride in check, all day- everyday!

Pressing On!

Dwayne