Who is the real you?
Yesterday the political world focused on some past words of one of the
candidates. In a video clip that played widely, he made statements that were
cringe-worthy about crime and race, his words seeming to reveal some inner
thoughts that do not match his public rhetoric. Watching the furor over this, I
felt humility because I know there are times when my feelings in the moment
drag me towards actions that are
inconsistent with my beliefs. For example,
I accept Jesus’ call to live lovingly and to forgive. However, were you to
mention a few names of people who have done hurtful things to me, my first
thought is not to be loving or forgiving. That
gap between what I believe and how I act needs confession, grace, and change!
We all have similar gaps, don’t we? For some, they are great
chasms of hypocrisy resembling the Grand Canyon. For others, they are there,
but smaller, like cracks in the sidewalk. Regardless, they must be acknowledged
and confessed. If we allow hypocrisy to go unchallenged in our heart, it will grow. We must never attempt to conceal
the gap – big or small – with religious talk. Jesus reserved His most scathing
remarks for religious leaders who used pious talk to conceal sin-filled hearts!
He told them - "You strain out a small fly but swallow a camel. You
Pharisees and teachers are show-offs, and you’re in for trouble! You wash the
outside of your cups and dishes, while inside there is nothing but greed and
selfishness." (Matthew 23:24-25,
CEV)
Hypocrisy offends God. It short-circuits our experience of God’s
grace. He desires to forgive us and His Spirit will change us from the inside
out but not if we are self-deceived, unwilling to get honest with Him. Simplicity, a singleness of heart and
mind that is Christ-centered, makes us beautiful, stable, and people who know
inner peace. James reminds us that "a double minded man - unstable in
all his ways." (James 1:8, KJV) The wisdom of the Word says "The
integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity" (Proverbs
11:3, NIV)
Do you practice the discipline of Simplicity – aiming to be no
more and no less than the person God desires? Is your life – each part – surrendered to Him
so that the Spirit can work to make you the same - inside and out - your thoughts, words, and actions aligned. Oh
yes, we are all works in progress. The greatest self-deception is that which
insists we have ‘arrived’ spiritually, that we have achieved a kind of perfection.
No, I haven’t nor have you.
There is a lesson in grace to be found in the life of King David. He
was a flawed man, one who sinned grievously. Yet, God loved him. Why? Because when his sin was pointed out to
him, when his hypocrisy was challenged, he cried out: "You’re the One
I’ve violated, and you’ve seen it all, seen the full extent of my evil. You
have all the facts before you; whatever you decide about me is fair. I’ve been
out of step with you for a long time, in the wrong since before I was born. … God, make a fresh start in me, shape a
Genesis week from the chaos of my life." (Psalm 51:4-5,10, The
Message) Confession heals us when it is deep, true, and desires change.
Are you living a double life? How about that gap between what you profess
and what you possess? Are you allowing the Spirit to lead you to close it,
humbly following His lead, listening to His voice? Are you in close fellowship
with other Christians who love you to wholeness?
Choose to practice the discipline of simplicity – saying only
what is true, avoiding exaggeration, refusing to hide behind an image.
Here is a word from the Word. "Come near to God
and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your
hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to
mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he
will lift you up." (James 4:8-10, NIV) Guilt and shame is not His desire for you. There
is restoration and reconciliation, so kneel before the One who “became sin
for us, that we might become the righteousness of God.”
Take a couple of minutes to listen to
the prayer-song below. Fernando Ortega sings words that inspire, that invite the
change that brings us peace.
_________________
You are my
life,
O precious
Christ!
You are to
me
The pearl
of greatest price.
My love
for You will never die.
Jesus You
are my life!
I come to
You.
I run to
You.
There's no
greater joy
Than
knowing You.
O holy
fire, Love's purest light!
Burn all
desires ‘till
You are my
one delight.
My love
for You will never die.
Jesus You
are my life!
O
conquering King,
Conquer my
heart!
And make
of me a pleasing gift to God.
My love
for You will never die.
Jesus You
are my life!
Jesus You
are my life!
Jesus You Are My Life
Steve Fry
© 1994 Maranatha Praise, Inc. (Admin. by Maranatha! Music)
Word Music, LLC (a div. of Word Music Group, Inc.)
CCLI License # 810055
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