Divine Disguise
The commercial immediately captured my attention. A svelte woman, clothed in an eye-catching running outfit, was striding like a gazelle in and out of neighborhood streets. “Chariots of Fire” type background music bellowed in the background. Her neatly coifed ponytail bounced in step with each of her pavement pounding strides, while a few stray hairs whipped against the current of the morning wind. The beaded glisten on her forehead collected into a single bead of sweat that dramatically ran down her temple towards her chiseled jaw line. Her expression was penetrating. There was no smile and no menacing frown. Just the certain look of determination. She wasn’t gasping desperately for air as if this was her first jog in decades. She was a seasoned runner—powerful, strong, and sure of herself. Her feminine legs and arms were defined and brawny. Indeed, she was a sight to behold: lean, swift, athletic, and beautiful.
The eye-catching commercial hadn’t been coupled with a lot of distracting verbiage. Only at the very end, just when you were on the edge of your seat waiting to see what this ad was all about, did a deep tenor say with passion:
“There’s an athlete among us . . . disguised as a wife and a mother.
Nike . . . just do it.”
My rubber glove clad hands, holding a dirty cooking pan deep in soapy dishwater, fell motionless. I felt something in me leap. I was a wife and mother, and the image of this woman made me feel like there was potential in me that I hadn’t tapped into. The marketing team at the Nike Corporation had done its job. I was inspired. Suddenly the Chariots of Fire music was roaring in my own head. I saw my short staccato steps that marked my usual jog exchanged for a long lean gallop that would cause people to admire my athleticism. I’d have the same fierce determined expression of this gorgeous woman. My hair would bounce and forehead would glisten just as hers had. I’d be muscular, defined and strong. I’d be able to run miles at a fast pace without gasping for air once. I’d no longer have to stop and walk to catch my breath—no, not me.
I was an athlete who had just been disguised as a wife and a mother.
Friend, you’ve been disguised. What’s your occupation? What do you do everyday? How do you define yourself?
Are you . . .
A wife
A mother
An executive
A manager
An Employee
A single woman
A ministry director
A friend
A relative
This is not who you are. It’s just your divine disguise.
You are really a Christ-follower who’s been disguised as a _____________.
Fill in the blank.
All of creation is waiting for the Christ-follower in you to be revealed. Never let your daily activity veil the reality of your calling to manifest Christ to the world. Your colleagues, friends, relatives, spouse and children are sitting on the edge of their seats, eagerly awaiting the unveiling of God’s daughters. They want to witness the power of God in us, be exposed to His Spirit operating through us, and experience His grace from us.
So, hear His love song ringing in your head and be inspired in this upcoming new year to come forth and be seen for who you truly are.
Now, is the time.
This is the season.
Just do it.
Priscilla Shirer, Going Beyond Ministries
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