Finding Truth in Jerry Maguire
Yesterday, I found myself teaching before the church on Kingdom Prayer and shouting out to God, “Show me your glory!” Earlier on Sunday, in preparation for the service, I found myself doing the same thing in my office at home, walking around my desk and crying out to God, “Show my your glory!” Both times, I reminded myself of Cuba Gooding, Jr. in the movie, Jerry Maguire, where he is dancing in his kitchen while talking on the phone to Tom Cruise, telling him, “show me the money!” If you are not familiar with the scene, click here for the clip.
Yes, both times I was bobbing and dancing in the a very sad impression of Cuba Gooding, Jr., but both times crying out from the core of my heart to see God’s glory. This, to me, is the essence of Kingdom Prayer and most significant in our relationship with God. Scripture is filled with people in close relationships with God, and these relationships are best characterized by their desire to see God’s glory!
Exodus 33:18
Then Moses said, “Now show me your glory.”
From Moses to David, from Peter to Paul, and even John seeing His glory in Revelations, each person had a desire to see God’s glory, seeking Him out, and wanting to know Him.
I was in prayer this morning and found this same yearning. Then it hit even harder than when I was sharing this with the church: “It’s about the relationship!” Wanting to see His glory is one of the foundational elements in our relationship with Him.
The character Cuba Gooding, Jr. plays in Jerry Maguire reminds me of what often gets in the way of my relationship with Jesus Christ. Instead of wanting to see His glory, I end up wanting to see the money, wanting to see my own glory, wanting to see my own satisfactions, and any numerous other distractions. These all cause me to lose my focus.
Perhaps, since this article is themed on the movie, Jerry Maguire, I should look closer at the mission statement written by the lead character at the beginning of the movie. Let’s make just one little change in the following excerpt though: let’s replace the word “job” with “life” and see how this reads.
“…And to those young agents who never met him, Dicky Fox always said the same thing when asked for his secret. “The secret to this job life,” he said, “is personal relationships.” Focus…
…Learn who these people are. That is the stuff of your relationship. That is what will matter. People always respond best to personal attention, it is the simplest and easiest truth to forget.
…I am wondering what that exact moment is when we truly, truly love our jobs lives. Is it during the day, or at the end of the day, or is it years later looking back on all we accomplished? I think perhaps truly loving something is the ability to love it at that moment. It is an elusive ability, something I have never been able to quite accomplish. I must go home, and take my experiences like a squirrel, and consider them, before I can truly enjoy them. I must work on this. The daily journey is everything. Being able to enjoy enjoyment while it is happening…
…The secret to this job life is personal relationships.
I do not believe we can live our lives based on a mission statement written in the movie, Jerry Maguire. I do believe this mission statement points out a critical element we often miss or forget about in our lives: relationships. Of all our relationships, our most critical is the one with a promise of eternal life.
Truly, the secret to this eternal life is a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. While you don’t have to dance around like Cuba Gooding, Jr., finding that joy and yearning desire to see God’s glory brings an enjoyment to you day like none other. This excitement was the reason I was dancing and bobbing in my office, dancing and bobbing in front of the church, seeking God and wanting to see His glory.
“Show me Your glory, God! Show me Your glory!”
Are you tough enough for a relationship with God?
Glenn Sasscer
www.glennsasscer.com
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