Have you ever met, spoken, or known people who wear masks? I know that I have before. Perhaps, you have as well. You may think of that person right now. Maybe, that person is even you!
When you speak to the mask-wearing people, you will know it. There are pretenses underneath or behind their conversation. You just know it when you talk with them. They are saying one thing but you know that there is an underlying motive or intention. They smile while they talk with you. However, you can tell that they are thinking something else when they are speaking with you. Perhaps, there may be insincerity in what they are saying to you. Maybe, there is a superficiality or fakeness in the people. Or...they say one thing but you can tell they are thinking something totally opposite...something contradictory.
In God's word, He mentions that people love falsehood over truthfulness, "You love evil rather than good, falsehood rather than speaking the truth." (Psalm 52:3, NIV)
Our Father God wants all people to be real, sincere, honest, and truthful with one another.
He instructs us, "Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body." (Ephesians 4:25, NIV)
In addition, a conversation between Joshua and Achan confirms this truth.
Then Joshua said to Achan, "My son, give glory to the LORD, the God of Israel, and honor him. Tell me what you have done; do not hide it from me."
Achan replied, "It is true! I have sinned against the LORD, the God of Israel. This is what I have done: When I saw in the plunder a beautiful robe from Babylonia, two hundred shekels of silver and a bar of gold weighing fifty shekels, I coveted them and took them. They are hidden in the ground inside my tent, with the silver underneath." (Joshua 7:19-21, NIV)
The next time you encounter one of the mask-wearing people open up and speak the truth to them. (Ephesians 4:15) Hope and pray that they also do the same with you. (1 Thessalonians 5:17) Then, little by little, it will be easier for everyone to take off the masks and be truthful with each other every time.
Prayer:
Father, remove anything from us that is not of you. Mold us and make us more into the image of your Son, Jesus Christ. Help us to cooperate with you and your completed work through your word and your spirit. We want to be the people you created us to be for your purpose and plans. (Jeremiah 29:11-13) Thanks you for loving us unconditionally and helping us each and every step of the way. In Jesus' name. Amen!
Copyright 2011 by Dawn Freeman. All rights reserved.
Showing posts with label honest. Show all posts
Showing posts with label honest. Show all posts
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Wearing Masks
Masks are normally worn on people's faces either on special occasions or around holidays such as Halloween or New Year's Eve.
However, there are other times people wear masks. There are also other reasons people wear masks.
Some of the places that people wear masks are in our society, in the corporate world, and in our churches.
Why do people wear so-called masks?
For one, they may be afraid of being real or "transparent". Normally, either they are afraid of being real with themselves or others.
In God's word, there were times when people were fearful of being honest with others. An exchange between Joshua and Achan was one of those times. Achan was afraid of being truthful with Joshua. Joshua confronted him about it.
Then Joshua said to Achan, "My son, give glory to the LORD, the God of Israel, and honor him. Tell me what you have done; do not hide it from me."
Achan replied, "It is true! I have sinned against the LORD, the God of Israel. This is what I have done: When I saw in the plunder a beautiful robe from Babylonia, two hundred shekels of silver and a bar of gold weighing fifty shekels, I coveted them and took them. They are hidden in the ground inside my tent, with the silver underneath." (Joshua 7:19-21, NIV)
There are different reasons for being fearful. Rejection, judgment, condemnation, and criticism are just a some of the usual reasons. However, fear of the unknown may also be one reason with an underlying cause which can be fear of the truth coming out. Normally, there are a couple of separate reasons for being afraid of the truth coming out. Perhaps, the people are not ready to deal with it themselves. On the other hand, they think others may not be able to accept it yet.
Ultimately, Jesus always knows the truth. When He met and spoke with the Samaritan woman at the well, He already knew the truth and spoke to her about it.
He told her, "Go, call your husband and come back."
"I have no husband," she replied.
Jesus said to her, "You are right when you say you have no husband. The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true." (John 4:16-18, NIV)
He plainly spoke the truth to her, and she could not deny it. He did not reject, condemn, criticize, or judge her. Consequently, she was able to open up and be honest with Him. She felt free to share with Him.
That is the way it should be too, not only with Jesus but also with us and others. It is very important to be open and honest. It is so nice and refreshing when we feel confident enough to do it too.
What do you need to do to begin this process?
First, be real with yourself. If you are not honest with yourself, you cannot be truthful with anyone.
Next, be honest with Jesus. He already knows about it. He wants you to come to Him with anything that is on your heart and mind. Just like with the Samaritan woman, Jesus will not reject, criticize, judge, or condemn you. Therefore, open up and share with Him.
Lastly, be sincere with other people. This one may take a little more time depending on the person or the situation. However, with Jesus’ help, it is very possible. (Matt 19:26, Philippians 4:13)
Step by step, all of the masks will come off in time. Then, there will be no more pretenses, superficiality, fakeness, or insincerity with yourself, Jesus, or others. You will be real. You will be "transparent". That is what everybody needs in this world...no matter the time or the place.
Copyright 2011 by Dawn Freeman. All rights reserved.
However, there are other times people wear masks. There are also other reasons people wear masks.
Some of the places that people wear masks are in our society, in the corporate world, and in our churches.
Why do people wear so-called masks?
For one, they may be afraid of being real or "transparent". Normally, either they are afraid of being real with themselves or others.
In God's word, there were times when people were fearful of being honest with others. An exchange between Joshua and Achan was one of those times. Achan was afraid of being truthful with Joshua. Joshua confronted him about it.
Then Joshua said to Achan, "My son, give glory to the LORD, the God of Israel, and honor him. Tell me what you have done; do not hide it from me."
Achan replied, "It is true! I have sinned against the LORD, the God of Israel. This is what I have done: When I saw in the plunder a beautiful robe from Babylonia, two hundred shekels of silver and a bar of gold weighing fifty shekels, I coveted them and took them. They are hidden in the ground inside my tent, with the silver underneath." (Joshua 7:19-21, NIV)
There are different reasons for being fearful. Rejection, judgment, condemnation, and criticism are just a some of the usual reasons. However, fear of the unknown may also be one reason with an underlying cause which can be fear of the truth coming out. Normally, there are a couple of separate reasons for being afraid of the truth coming out. Perhaps, the people are not ready to deal with it themselves. On the other hand, they think others may not be able to accept it yet.
Ultimately, Jesus always knows the truth. When He met and spoke with the Samaritan woman at the well, He already knew the truth and spoke to her about it.
He told her, "Go, call your husband and come back."
"I have no husband," she replied.
Jesus said to her, "You are right when you say you have no husband. The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true." (John 4:16-18, NIV)
He plainly spoke the truth to her, and she could not deny it. He did not reject, condemn, criticize, or judge her. Consequently, she was able to open up and be honest with Him. She felt free to share with Him.
That is the way it should be too, not only with Jesus but also with us and others. It is very important to be open and honest. It is so nice and refreshing when we feel confident enough to do it too.
What do you need to do to begin this process?
First, be real with yourself. If you are not honest with yourself, you cannot be truthful with anyone.
Next, be honest with Jesus. He already knows about it. He wants you to come to Him with anything that is on your heart and mind. Just like with the Samaritan woman, Jesus will not reject, criticize, judge, or condemn you. Therefore, open up and share with Him.
Lastly, be sincere with other people. This one may take a little more time depending on the person or the situation. However, with Jesus’ help, it is very possible. (Matt 19:26, Philippians 4:13)
Step by step, all of the masks will come off in time. Then, there will be no more pretenses, superficiality, fakeness, or insincerity with yourself, Jesus, or others. You will be real. You will be "transparent". That is what everybody needs in this world...no matter the time or the place.
Copyright 2011 by Dawn Freeman. All rights reserved.
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