Top Dog

I just blew in from Atlanta where the Christian Booksellers Association had its yearly humongous convention. All the current ‘Who’s Who’ of Christendom were there. I got to chat with Carol Kent, hang with Babbie Mason for an entire evening, and I was even dared to give Chuck Norris a little karate chop when he walked by. In case you’re wondering why I was there, hey, someone has to pour coffee and carry the luggage for all the important people.

It’s easy to get a little star-struck. I have to admit to at least a little bit of drool when I saw Gloria Gaither, Beth Moore and Kay Arthur. There were crowds of people around Andy Stanley, Steven Curtis Chapman and Kirk Cameron. But would you like to know who the big hit was? Everyone went completely gah-gah over BENJI! Yes, the dog. Sort of a ‘top dog,’ I guess. Who would’ve thought the hairiest creature there would be the ‘big name’ attraction at the convention? I guess it’s all about perspective.

Here’s real perspective: the all-time big name—The Biggest Name—belongs to our Almighty God. And it’s that very God who has chosen to make us His own—adopted us as sons and daughters. Amazing! First Samuel 12:22 says, “For the sake of His great name the LORD will not reject His people, because the LORD was pleased to make you His own.” (NIV) He loves us as His precious children and through Jesus He adopts us into His eternal family. “Long before He laid down earth’s foundations, He had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of His love, to be made whole and holy by His love. Long, long ago He decided to adopt us into His family through Jesus Christ. (What pleasure He took in planning this!) He wanted us to enter into the celebration of His lavish gift-giving by the hand of His beloved Son.” (Ephesians 1:4-5, The Message)

I’m infinitely more ‘Son-struck’ than ‘star-struck.’ Jesus Christ is THE Star. He tells us in Revelation 22:16 “I, Jesus, have sent My angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.” (NIV)

If you’ve allowed the Morning Star to shine His forgiveness into your life, God the Father has made you His very own. Because of the Father’s love for you and because of the sacrifice of the bright Morning Star, you’ve been lavishly gifted with new hope and a new future. Did you know that makes you a ‘big name’ personality? Yes, you’re a big name personality in the biggest and best way!

But don’t worry—I promise if we happen to run into each other I’ll do my best to keep my karate chops to myself.

Rhonda Rhea juggles her writing and speaking ministries around chasing her five children and running to keep up with her husband, Richie, pastor of First Baptist Church of Troy. Her book, Amusing Grace, is available at your local Christian book store, or you can pick it up through her website at www.RhondaRhea.net where you can also pre-order her newest release Turkey Soup for the Soul—Tastes Just Like Chicken.