grace given me

Have you ever heard of the Enneagram? A few years back I became obsessed with it. The Enneagram is a personality typology that describes nine types of human personality. It’s based on the idea that each person has a core personality type that drives their motivations and fears. During my exploration of Enneagram I discovered that I am a “2,” also known as a “Helper” or “Giver.” Author Ian Morgan Cron in The Road Back to You states, “…every number on the Enneagram teaches us something about the nature and character of the God who made us.”

When I think about Jesus, he is the ultimate helper and giver. He came to serve us. In John 13, at the last supper, it says, “So he (Jesus) got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him.” Jamie Winship in Living Fearless, challenges us to picture Jesus standing before us, offering to serve us. Winship asks, “Would you let him? Or would you be like Peter…” who we are told responded to Jesus saying, “You shall never wash my feet.” Yet Jesus answers with, “Unless I wash you, you will have no part with me.” It seems that Peter meant respect, but Jesus appears to be insisting that we are to accept him serving us. So would you let him? We must be willing recipients. Are you willing to claim the prize of all that God has for you? Jesus serves us so that we can in turn serve others.

As I was working through the Living Fearless book, I felt Jesus calling me to receive his service; specifically, his help as the Great Shepherd who protects and cares for us. He was nudging me to turn and shepherd ‘my tribe’ under his headship. In my quiet time I heard him tell me to become protective of the people I do life with – to claim them. I have shepherded my kids, my family, work teams I have led, soccer teams I have coached, friends who have sought advice. But God convicted me – he revealed I was limiting my service to people I liked and people I knew who liked me. I was being safe. I was certainly not “risking it” with people who “didn’t deserve it” – according to intended or unintended offenses I had suffered by them or “messy” people who I believed would require too much of me.

But he transformed my thoughts and implored me to knock down the walls, the separation I was upholding for safety, for self-righteousness. He flooded my mind: claim them just as I have claimed you. Say, “That is my husband.” “Those are my kids.” “That is my mom. My dad. My step-parent. My in-law. My sister. My niece. My nephew. My friend.” “That is my employee. My co-worker.” “That is my boss.” He said defend, honor, believe with, walk with, hope with. Be for them. Serve them just as I have served you. Can anyone else feel the sentiment shift when you claim your tribe?

It’s hard to talk smack about your boss when you have claimed him or her and are positioned to defend them, to be for them. You can dream with your nephew. You can be more compassionate with your spouse. You can more easily forgive your friend. It even makes going into new experiences less anxious and more exciting when you have pre-claimed the people: those are my people in that new class. Those are my new parent friends from my kid’s team. Try it out and let me know what you think.

Moses got flustered by his people but he never said ‘separate me from these fools’. They were his tribe. He had claimed them as his to shepherd through the wilderness. He is on the mountaintop and they are down below making a golden calf into an idol. He got angry but didn’t desert them (physically or emotionally). He prayed for them, longed for them, hoped for them, intercessed for them, worked for them, sacrificed for them. He stayed with them. He was for them.

Lord I pray to claim the prize that you offer every day. I receive your presence, your guidance, your help, your service, your love. As I take hold of what you so willingly give to me, I pray to use that as fuel to burn as I claim the people around me. I am standing on your faithfulness, on your grace. I love because you first loved me. Lord help me to defend, honor, and love the people you have put in my life and will put in my life. You have said ‘love my sheep, feed my sheep.’ Let your will be done. Amen.