By the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain. But I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. 1 CORINTHIANS 15:10
Webster’s defines humility as “the state of being humble” and humble as “not proud or haughty: not arrogant or assertive.” That’s a starting point, but Christians add this aspect of understanding: humility is a right evaluation of who you are in relation to the almighty and holy God. Paul’s statement in 1 Corinthians 15:10 is an expression of genuine humility. Paul knew that he was who he was—an apostle in God’s church as opposed to its persecutor—only by “the grace of God.” Paul was a living testimony to the supernatural miracle of redemption; his life illustrates what it is like to be a new creation in Christ, born again by the Spirit of God, and having Christ dwell within. Paul knew that his labor for God’s church was fruitful only because of “the grace of God which was with me.” When we remember that the grace of God provides everything we need to lead a godly life, we can live with a true humility that is confident and courageous. - Blackaby Being Still With God a 365 Day Devotional
Pretty much all of us in the last year have been put in a situation of wearing masks. The profound truth is even before this mandate, men and women have been wearing masks, both public and private. The turn of phrase is putting on a show. Being a certain way around certain people. Behaving one way towards their children or any child, yet another around spouses, an perhaps another around friends, family and strangers.
What kind do you wear? Are you a WYSWYG person? In the early 1980's that was an often used description of interaction with personal computers. What You See What You Get. That's what that stood for.
Do you put on a show for various people around you? Do you behave a certain way on purpose in order to avoid things in life?
My Friend, all the masks in this world, all the possibilities of behavior we can use, will never hide who we are to Jesus.
We can lie to ourselves, lie to others, we cannot lie to God.
We can believe what we will, we cannot use that belief to change who and what God is.
You can spend your life believing something contrary to the Word of God, may even live a highly successful life at that, but when you die, your lie will be exposed for what it was. You will still face the truth of the judgement of God.
You cannot rewrite the laws of God by way of the laws of the land. Just because a majority in a Government or of world opinion says it's right, good, and true. If it violates the Word of God, it's none of the above.
You look in your mirror, you adjust your hair. You wash your face and hands. All you can do is affect what is on the outside of you. What you eat, how you eat, what you inhale, what you read, view, watch, is going to be what either causes you to grow in knowledge towards Salvation or it will drive you away from it.
Do you put on a show because of peer pressure? Do you put on a show because of policies at work or the current accepted normal we see in the world? Do you who call yourself a Christian, do you let Christ's light shine or do you put it under a basket? The wisdom of God should be seen in obedient living.
Are you hiding the truth of you from you?
Have you been embracing sin for so long that you can't recognize the truth? A fool says in his heart that there is no God. Psalms 14.
Have you 'tried' living for Jesus and at the first rebuke that came you turned from Him? Way too many humans in the last several generations have been taught that discipline shouldn't be done in bringing up a child. We see the results in a world of adults who believe they are owed everything and should be able to go do and live however they want. That they can force others to accept them as they are.
Jesus says otherwise. There never were any who had masks on around Jesus who didn't get them taken off by Him. He spoke to the truth of their soul.
People who spend a great deal of time creating a persona really get upset when someone sees right through them. Often Jesus could and would ask a single question and pierce right through to a person's heart.
Have you been avoiding Jesus because you know He is trying to get through to you?
Have you been keeping busy with so many things that you avoid stopping to be with Jesus, knowing that exposure to Him will mean the truth of you being seen for what it is?
Are you intentional in your mask wearing in order to keep up appearances to keep you happy?
More importantly, are you being intentional in trying to hide from the truth of God?
You see for believers in the day we stand before Christ, out lives will be exposed to the fire of truth. What remains of our service and devotion to Christ after the fire we will give back to Jesus. Will you have anything left? For unbelievers, I am afraid that after you face Him, all your words and works will be consumed by the fire because your names will not be in the book of Life.
In Christ is found life. Is found truth. Is found what real love is. The world tries to redefine love to fit their sin. Hiding behind a mask of a lie to convince themselves that they are enjoying life.
I have been around a lot of people in my life. Have seen all kinds. Probably there are kinds that I really don't want to see. Those who insist on living a life of sin are, deep down, enraged at Christians because they know the truth about sin and sinful life. Because Christian people represent the one who rejects their view of life. God rejects a sinner who refuses to accept His truth. That they need a Savior in Christ Jesus.
All the masks you can wear to fool yourself or others will not hide who and what you are in the sight of God. Note clearly in Revelation, nobody is asked if they are a believer or an unbeliever. Jesus knows and Jesus separates. There is no interview to determine the truth. The God of all truth already knows. The sooner we all come to grips with God's truth and remove our real or implied masks the sooner we can be in a right relationship with Jesus.
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