Devotions this week based on the Message: “Hope Comes with Secure Relationships”.
The real deal is a big deal.
We live a world of “knock offs.” I remember years ago traveling to Tijuana, Mexico, just south of the California/Mexico border. At that time it was an easy trip across the border and back. A few dollars would go along way to buy a few trinkets. Along the streets were various shops of vendors selling their wares. One was selling watches. A Gucci watch for $15 dollars. Wow! What a deal!
Nope. Just a cheap knock off. It had the name, but the inner working and the “gold” plating made it look good on the outside, but it was not the real deal.
People can be this way too. With social media we can portray to the world the image we want them to see. We create the perception and story others have of us…or at least we try.
Perhaps because we are afraid at what might happen if people really found out who we were and what we are like.
It’s easy to “put on a front” for a short period of time. But when someone gets to know us, they will see the real deal. It’s disconcerting when the “real deal” is different than what has been presented to us. It is securing when the person we get to know is truly the same as was presented to us.
Christians have an opportunity to make an impact by being authentic. Sure, we are tempted to put on our “Sunday best” and then “let it loose” the rest of the week. The Apostle John said this,
1 John 1:6 If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.
An authentic presentation of ourselves and authentic relationship with others starts with an authentic relationship with Jesus. We need connection to Jesus to purify us inside and out. Sin loves to hide inside and as much as we try, we can’t always hide it on the outside. But Jesus loves to come into our hearts and lives and expose sin and replace it with his forgiveness and the power of the Spirit.
The reason? So we can walk in the light, just as Jesus walks in the light.
Jesus is authentic. Who he is as true God and true man, the Savior and servant of all is truly who he is. He doesn’t change or fool us into thinking he is one thing and then presenting another. In Jesus there is no sin and evil. In him there is justice and love. In him there is forgiveness and grace.
When this permeates our hearts and minds, it takes over and all of us become influenced by and a reflection of Jesus to others.
Wouldn’t that be a wonderful thing? To always reflect Jesus to others so when people see us, they see Jesus.
I think so. I pray God helps me to do just that.
Apply: What “part of you” do you try to hide from others because you are afraid of their reaction if they would find out. Perhaps spend time in prayer to ask God to align even that part of us to his light and his way.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for being authentic – the real deal, our God, our Savior, our Light. AMEN.