"Why weren't you all the Bill Faris I made you to be?"
I have a friend who believes God will ask me that question (among others) when I stand before Him to give an account for my life. Whether or not my friend is right, I do believe that it matters to God that I live in an authentic manner. When we are real, we are strong. When we hide, we weaken ourselves, give less glory to God, and minimize our contribution to others.
I have a friend who believes God will ask me that question (among others) when I stand before Him to give an account for my life. Whether or not my friend is right, I do believe that it matters to God that I live in an authentic manner. When we are real, we are strong. When we hide, we weaken ourselves, give less glory to God, and minimize our contribution to others.
Hiding Places
"God is light," the Scriptures tell us, "and in Him is no darkness at all" (I John 1:5). God does not live in shadows. He is fully and perfectly self-aware -- 100% actualized in the blazing light of His own perfect knowledge.
I, on the other hand, am practiced at maintaining certain hiding places in my life. This represents a foolish attempt to conceal my true self from God, the world, and even my own awareness. The more I hide, the more of my strength I deal away. So why do I do it?
Come Out, Come Out Wherever You Are!
Fear. Shame. Risk. Doubts. Sin. These are some of the things I figure into the risk/reward calculation of whether or not I will try to remain in hiding. Stacking up these kinds of things in the dark only load me down with burdens and illusions that weaken me.
The Apostle John reminds us that: "if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son, cleanses us from all sin" (I John 1: 7).
When I step out of my shadows into the light, I find God waiting for me there. I find forgiveness and cleansing, connection with others and true knowledge of my self. This is where my real contribution can begin. This is where my real strength lies.
So, let me ask you: are you all the __ _(your name here)___ God has made you to be? If not, pray that the Spirit we lead you out of the shadows and into the light where your strength can truly be found.
"God is light," the Scriptures tell us, "and in Him is no darkness at all" (I John 1:5). God does not live in shadows. He is fully and perfectly self-aware -- 100% actualized in the blazing light of His own perfect knowledge.
I, on the other hand, am practiced at maintaining certain hiding places in my life. This represents a foolish attempt to conceal my true self from God, the world, and even my own awareness. The more I hide, the more of my strength I deal away. So why do I do it?
Come Out, Come Out Wherever You Are!
Fear. Shame. Risk. Doubts. Sin. These are some of the things I figure into the risk/reward calculation of whether or not I will try to remain in hiding. Stacking up these kinds of things in the dark only load me down with burdens and illusions that weaken me.
The Apostle John reminds us that: "if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son, cleanses us from all sin" (I John 1: 7).
When I step out of my shadows into the light, I find God waiting for me there. I find forgiveness and cleansing, connection with others and true knowledge of my self. This is where my real contribution can begin. This is where my real strength lies.
So, let me ask you: are you all the __ _(your name here)___ God has made you to be? If not, pray that the Spirit we lead you out of the shadows and into the light where your strength can truly be found.
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