1-5-06
Christians often try to live their lives as though life can be divided into different spheres where
different sets of rules apply. This process may seem right and appropriate as it may seem to
make our lives work or, more likely, keep them from not working any worse than they do.
We should examine this aspect of our lives and see if our lives are splintered in this way. Are we
different at work than at church? Are we different at home than at school? How so? Do we
believe - or act like we believe - different things are not only okay in different places but maybe
even necessary in different places? I will leave aside for now the very real possibility that we
might think something is not okay but still necessary.
I think part of the liberty that Christ provides us is the freedom to leave these divisions behind
and move toward living the same way wherever we find ourselves. As we mature in Christ we
should find ourselves less inclined to present ourselves differently and more inclined to reveal to
the world who we really are. There is no reason to broadcast our sin past or present in any
detail but neither is there reason to pretend to have achieved perfection. The Bible faithfully
records sin of those who are called the most humble, a man after God's own heart, and everyone
else except Jesus who was the only one who did not sin.
Our good deeds need not be hidden either. When we believe that any good fruit from our toil
and struggle is truly the result of God's power and energy working in us then we can have faith
that God will be glorified by those who see our good works. When we are no longer concerned
about our own reputation we will be able to present ourselves everywhere the same rather than
looking for the best way to enhance our own reputation depending on whom we are with or what
we are doing.
We are as bright as we are and no brighter, as wealthy as we are and no wealthier, as good as
we are and no better so as Christians we need not be concerned that anyone think otherwise
about us than what is true. Jesus is truth itself, can we follow Him without striving to live from the
reality of truth? Truth is the same yesterday, today, and forever. We should be the same here,
there, and everywhere.
Dale
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