Anyway

A great passage from Matthew 16 that we do well to take to heart highlights the importance of denying self and developing a sense of self-sacrifice, properly shaped by the Lord:
24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.
25 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.
26 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?

There is a distinct contrast between human and godly wisdom, between human ambition and the desire to please God.  In our flesh, according to our human nature, we look to the things of self - how we may please ourselves; but in the Spirit, we look to the things of God - how we may please Him. In His Word, Christ gives us instruction that can shape our understanding and point us in the proper direction - and He gives us the power to carry it out.

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Jesus is calling us to walk according to His Word, rather than in the ways of the world, and the contrast is seen in 1st John 2:
15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
16 For all that is in the world--the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life--is not of the Father but is of the world.

17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.
The quarterback controversy that has affected the Washington Redskins NFL franchise seems to be over, with former Jimmy Hitchcock awards speaker Kirk Cousins emerging as the starter for the team's playoff run this year.  His backup became Colt McCoy, and #3 - was RG3, Robert Griffin III, the highly-touted dual-option quarterback who faced plenty of difficulty adapting to the pro game.

So, recently it was time for the former franchise player to clean out his locker.  But, he didn't leave the compartment bare - there were at least two items left.  Bob Barnard of Fox 5 DC posted a picture, which showed a picture of a poster, on which were displayed, according to Fox News Insider, a letter referring to “The Paradoxical Commandments” by Dr. Kent M. Keith. The report also says that according to ESPN, this display appeared under a framed verse from Philippians 3:13, along with the headline: “I can do all things.”

NBCSports.com published the text of the note, or the poster:

“People are often unreasonable, irrational & self-centered. Forgive them anyway. If you are kind, people may accuse you of self, ulterior motives. Be kind anyway. If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends, and some genuine enemies. Succeed anyway. If you are honest & sincere, people may deceive you. Be honest & sincere anyway.

“What you spend years creating others could destroy overnight. Create anyway. If you find serenity & happiness, some may be jealous. Be happy anyway. The good you do today, will often by [sic] forgotten. Do good anyway. Give the best you have, and it will never be enough. Give your best anyway. In the final analysis, it’s between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.”

The article points out that, "Despite an explanation that the note was hanging in Griffin’s locker all year, it seems to have been left in a prominent place. Making the note more conspicuous is the fact that the rest of the stuff in the locker is gone."

These Commandments have sometimes been attributed to Mother Teresa.  The Paradoxical Commandments website does state that she had put the Commandments up on her wall in Calcutta, with 8 of the original 10 "Commandments."  On the Internet, there is another version that mentions the "final analysis," and that is similar to the version that RG3 posted in his locker.

Well, I'm not sure of the inspiration for these Commandments, or what exactly the message that Mr. Griffin wanted to send using them, as well as the framed Scripture.  But, I am intrigued by the use of the word, "anyway," and that's what I want to key in on.

We are not called to follow the way of the world.  And, the world operates by a set of values that is opposite to the teachings of Scripture.   1st John 2 warns against the worldly desires that can derail us in our lives in Christ.  The world would tempt us to become selfish and only look out for ourselves.  The Word shows us that we are to become self-less, just as Jesus denied Himself and laid down His life for us.

You could say it's counterintuitive.   Because as humans, we can become so committed to self-preservation.  But, Jesus calls us to deny ourselves.  We are called to take up His cross, which signifies self-sacrifice, and to follow Him.   No matter what the world would dictate to us about how we are to act, what we are to feel, how we are to regard other people - Jesus calls us to love...anyway. When we are wronged or feel as though we are wronged, as the Paradoxical Commandments open up - we are to forgive anyway.   We can resist temptation and conformity to the world and walk in victory over desires that are contrary to God's nature - anyway.