“If Christianity doesn’t make a difference in your life Monday through Saturday, it is not authentic.“ -Elisabeth Elliot | The Test of Love
When choosing a restaurant to eat Mexican food at, I prefer authentic Mexican food over the Tex-Mex places.
When choosing a book to read about someone, I prefer to read a biography over fiction because it’s about a real person.
When choosing close friends, I prefer friends who are real - the same during the week as they are at church. Of course, sometimes we get duped, but God knows and allows it for our good and growth.
When you’ve seen the fire, the smoke just won’t do.
When choosing how to live my life before God Almighty, I prefer authenticity in my relationship with Him (not perfection.) Of course, I fail at times, and am met with His mercy and grace.
There is a difference between a continual pattern of hypocrisy (as if we're in a hide and seek game with God) and a continual pattern of humbly seeking to live in the Spirit of Christ.
No pattern of life is secret to Him. He is real, and we should be too if we truly desire to glorify Him.
He sees us every moment of every day, not just on church days. He sees the ministry for Him exercised in places unseen and unsupported. He is the only One necessary for acknowledgement or applause.
"This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first JESUS CHRIST might shew forth all longsuffering, for a PATTERN to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting. Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen." -I Timothy 1:15-17
May God help us to be real -to exercise authenticity-for His name's sake! ~ jlw