The Husk

12/11/2020

Matthew 16:24 “If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself.”

Culturally we celebrate individuality, yet we are expected to think alike in many circles. Of course I would love it if everyone was a believer, but I do not judge people who are not. Even people of faith have some differing views on how to worship, but like my former Pastor Reg used to say, “In essentials unity, in all else grace.” God uses the individual gifts He has given us (if we let Him, that is) to reach others for His kingdom. It may be through preaching, song, ministry, or just reaching out to a neighbor. Chambers writes today, however, that our individuality is the shell that covers our personal life. This can present itself in so many ways, from the careers we choose to the way we dress or wear our hair, from the food we eat—vegan, carnivore, high carb, low carb—to our entertainment—sports fan, sci-fi fan, rom-com, musical—and I could go on and on. Again, this is only the husk of our true selves, and sometimes we wrap ourselves in the external to hide our true personal lives.

This is even true of believers. Years ago in a Sunday school class, we read a book called, The Mask You Wear. It was about keeping up a positive Christian exterior while you are hurting and suffering on the inside. In the same way that mental illness is now being more openly talked about, I think Christians are beginning to let the “Perfection Mask” start to fall away. It is interesting that Chambers uses the word “husk”, as a husk always hides what is truly inside. If you were to look at an ear of corn, not already knowing what was inside, could you ever guess its contents? We are very much the same way; people can never tell what is on the inside of a person by looking at their exterior.

In my spiritual life, I must always remember that God already knows what is inside of my human husk. I can hide nothing from Him, although sometimes I may think I can. Sometimes my individuality collides with my faith and creates bruising. Sometimes, more than it should, my individuality interferes with things of the Spirit. Chambers writes, “Watch yourself when the Spirit of God is at work. He pushes you to the margins of your individuality, and you have either to say—‘I shan’t,’ or to surrender, to break the husk of individuality and let the personal life emerge.”

Matthew 16:24-25 “Then Jesus said to His disciples, ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow Me. For whosoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for Me will find it.”