No Masks

eDevotion

Encouragement for your daily walk with God 

Today is Halloween, a day when people put on costumes and cover up who they really are; when they pretend to be someone, or something, they aren’t. That idea made me think about some people who put on an appearance of being a Christ follower when they really aren’t. 

You’ve probably met a few people like that. Their “Christianity” is merely…

Looking for a momentary spark to make it through the day.

Finding a spiffy quote to make them sound spiritual.

Desiring bite-size pieces of peace to make them feel better.

Wanting quick and easy solutions to make life more manageable.

Who doesn’t want things like that? But that is not Christianity. Christ followers aren’t looking for something to make them look or feel a little better about themselves, it’s about Jesus; inclining our hearts into His reality, His grace, His love, and most of all, His free gift of salvation.

A Christ follower isn’t looking for a little “God goodness” to rub off on them. They’re looking for a relationship of obedience born out of love. Trying to look the part of a Christ follower is like putting a fresh coat of paint on a piece of rotting wood. 

The New Testament refers to people like that as hypocrites. Interestingly, the Greek word for hypocrite means, to put on a mask. In Greek and Roman times, a hypocrite was an actor who put on a mask. It may have been a “happy face” to fit the part, while his life was in shambles, fraught with deep emotional pain. 

A Christ follower is real, not fake, and certainly NOT perfect. There is no such thing as a perfect Christ follower, only perfectly surrendered Christ followers! A surrendered Christ follower says, “Jesus, I’m yours. Show me; help me; forgive me; pour Your tender mercies upon me.” He does, and always will! Our imperfections are resting in His holy perfection. So, we simply keep on keeping on, moment by imperfect moment, day by imperfect day. 

Don’t settle for costumed Christianity when you can have a vital, life-changing relationship with Him.

These people make a big show of saying the right thing, but their heart isn’t in it. They act like they’re worshiping me, but they don’t mean it. They just use me as a cover for teaching whatever suits their fancy. Matthew 15:8-9 (The MESSAGE Paraphrase)