Been thinkin' 'bout masks, and why masks, and how they hinder. Not sure about all the whys.
Some people have something they want to pull off. And some people try to be at their best, to look their best, or at least good enough. We have positions or jobs to gain, or try to keep. There are other reasons too I'm sure. And being at our best ..nothin' wrong with that ..is defined differently for different people. Some feel they have blemishes and flaws to hide.
Sure, people want to be loved and protected..even from scorn or rejection.
Many post their thoughts or over-post in different social media networks because they really want their profiles to look good—they want to be loved. They want no lack and to appear as if they "have it all together"—with no problems, no struggles, no fears, temptations, sorrows, or heartaches. You know that designers in Milan and New York along with their companies make a lot of money off of this common desire.
Trying to maintain a nice lookin' facade of perfection on our spiritual sojourn doesn't really help us or our fellow travelers on the road Home. What does? The sharing of our lives and Message with other saints in the body of Christ and with sinners.. that can indeed edify or benefit us as well as them.
Sometimes we believers can fear what people might think of us ..if they really get to know us. Unfortunately, I've been there before so I can relate. It's a fear that's so easy to fall into. There might even be a tendency to hide yourself some, to hide your solid Christian beliefs and your walk etc. If we all did that, how would any more people come into God's Kingdom cuz faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of Christ. Paul said, “But if our Gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: in
whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not,
lest the light of the glorious Gospel of Christ, who is the image of God,
should shine unto them” (2 Cor. 4:3-4).
Now the Lord knows us completely and He of course still loves us deeply, but people aren't like Him. Yet, being transparent with outsiders and insiders.. not only about the victories that the Lord has given, but also about the flaws, the battles, the trials, the struggles that we still currently fight against.. humbly speaks of us being genuinely human, relate-able, authentic, and honest.
I'm not sayin' we go around sharing everything about our lives with just any carnal Christian or reprobate that comes across our paths. That wouldn't be wise. They aren't the ones to go to pray for you. I'm simply encouraging you to walk in the light.. to bring it all into the light before the Lord in prayer, yes, instead of hiding in fear, or walking around in darkness while putting on aires. The Church and God's global purpose doesn't need that.
If we've been wearin' em, let's now allow God to remove the masks on our faces.. to just strip away any pretense and "let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds" (Heb. 10:24).
"Wearing a mask that shows everything's fine
Says that life's struggles are not God's design;
But when we're open, transparent, and true,
People will trust God to meet their needs too." —David Sper
If we truly want the Christlike character, we must obey Him applying His word. Sure, every Bible needs to be bound in peep's shoe leather. Yes, and expose some of our weaknesses.. first to Him in prayer and as He would lead wisely to some others. People put on masks to protect as they go about doin' what they want. But it's time to do as Christ wants. It's time to shed all the religious hypocrisy, uppity snooty aires, and just stop pretending, for the Lord never lived like that. He's our Example and wants us to be honest and transparent as we rep Him in the world. @kurtwvs
Who really needs masks? Perhaps a secret agent out on a mission needs one, but we aren't called to be secret agent saints. We are called to wisely go public with our faith in the Lord. Hey, I'm not talking about a religion or promoting some kind of religion here today. In the "last days" as I believe we are now in religions will be deluded and homogenized. Religious people will believe any and everything except for the biblical Gospel message that saves not one. I am talking about enjoying an honest relationship with Jesus Christ that impacts others in the best kind of way. He alone saves people. And you can have that today!
"Exchange the mask you wear for the opportunity for your story to be used in His story.. for your struggle to be used as a beacon of hope in the lives of hurting people around you." —Tracey Metzger
"Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth." 2 Timothy 2:15
"Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves." Matthew 7:15
"Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth." ~ Jesus, see John 17:17
Is the puttin' on of strange aires righteous? Doesn't it have more to do with pretending, with non-entertainment kinda acting—it's typically the puttin' forth an attitude as though one is better than another or others. And we believers aren't better than other people. Nope. We are saints positionally, but we are sinners practically speaking cuz though we try to avoid it.. we still sin...and Jesus still forgives us as we turn to Him. We are simply better off than many ..because of the Cross of Christ and His forgiveness. And that's way we want to go tell! facebook.com/shareJesus
