Category: Devotional Thoughts

Another season of American Idol is here. Yes, this show is very popular here in the Philippines (just explaining for my American readers). I tend to lose interest once the finalist are competing, but I love watching the first auditions. Some of the “talent” and judges’ comments just makes me laugh out loud.

I really can’t believe the naivety of some of the contestants. Some of them confidently assert that they are American Idol material, yet their audition sounds like the drunken karaokey I hear while wondering through Manila. “This poor guy really needs to pursue another life dream,” I think to myself. The judges’ comments may seem harsh, but maybe it keeps some from wasting their lives on unrealistic goals.

If you have watched the show, you know that the most straightforward, humorous, and rude criticisms usually come from Simon. Love him or hate him, you probably can’t wait to hear his critiques. Simon, of course, may be a little too straightforward. At the same time, you know his compliments are 100% sincere. When he tells someone they have talent, you know it is not just flattery.

A few months back I wrote an devotional entitled We All Need a Nathan. This devotional was based on the many roles Nathan had in David’s life. Sometimes I wonder if we could all use a “Simon” in our lives from time to time.

Here’s what I mean. As I pointed out in the before-mentioned article, “A true friend will love us enough to tell us the truth, even at the risk of hurting our feelings.” Proverbs says it this way:

Wounds from a friend can be trusted,
but an enemy multiplies kisses.
-Proverbs 27:6

Whether we want to admit it or not, we can be just as foolish as some of those Idol contestants. As I mentioned in the devotional about Nathan, we can have “blind spots” in our lives–sometimes everyone can see them except us!

Hopefully you have at least one friend in your life who is 100% honest with you. This type of friend will be just as straightforward as Simon, but speak from a loving heart. If you don’t have someone like this in your life, ask God to send him/her to you. You will hear things that may make you uncomfortable, but you will be a better man or woman in the long run.

I was completely fascinated with reptiles when I was a child (in some ways I still am). My cousins and I spent countless hours looking for snakes, lizards, frogs, salamanders, and other such creepy crawlers. We would catch them and keep them in jars or aquariums. My room looked like a mini-zoo sometimes (thankfully, Mom was very tolerant).

Now I live on the sixth floor of an apartment building in a crowded city. It is not like Alabama, but I still run across things that remind me of my childhood. My place is inhabited by several small lizards (they are called butiki in Tagalog). They are nocturnal, so I usually only see them at night. They are welcome guests in my place, especially since they spend all night eating insects.

The other day I opened up one of my cushioned cd holders (it was closed, but not zipped up). I found three round objects, each one a bit smaller than a peanut. At first I thought that some students or visitors had spilled some candy/snacks (good thing I didn’t try a taste test). Pretty quickly I realized that these were probably lizard eggs. The dark, soft cd case was the ideal place for a mother reptile to deposit the next generation.

I wasn’t sure how long they had been there or even if they were still “alive,” but I figured all they needed was a warm dark place to incubate. I’m in Manila, so my whole apartment is pretty warm. I put the eggs in an unused cabinet and didn’t think much about it afterwards.

A few nights ago I notice a tiny lizard near the before-mentioned cabinet. I looked, and sure enough, one of the eggs had hatched.

The next night I saw another tiny lizard on the kitchen counter. I checked the cabinet, and a second egg had hatched. I was able to get him on my hand for a quick picture, although it seems that he was afraid the big white monster wanted him for a snack (who can blame him).

Believe it or not, the Bible says that we can learn from lizards. If you live in the Philippines, you will definitely understand this verse:

” . . .a lizard can be caught with the hand, yet it is found in kings’ palaces.”
Proverbs 30:28

The lizard is so small and humble that you can grab in in your had, but it can be found just about anywhere here. I bet they live in the presidential palace.

This proverb speaks of boldness.

You may consider yourself unimportant, insignificant, or inadequate (you are not the only one to struggle with such feelings). The example of the lizard, however, challenges us to be bold. We should take risks and try new things. We should not be terrified of failure. We should have confidence as children of God. It seems that lizards never worry if they are “good enough” to live in a king’s palace or a Manila condo. They just boldly invade and dare you to stop them.

God has used me in ways that I never would have dreamed of. In order for this to happen, I’ve had to trust Him completely and not look at my own limitations. I had to step outside of my “comfort zone.” I had to see myself as His representative–this gives me great courage and boldness when I am tempted to be afraid.

If lizards can live in king’s palaces, then God’s children can do equally amazing things. If you are a follower of Christ, then you are a child of the King–be bold!