Here is the scripture:
Colossians 3:5-14
5 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry . . . 7 You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. 8 But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. 9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. . . 12 Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
Good scripture. The one part of the verse that stuck out was this, "Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. . . " This stuck out to me for many reasons. Some of you are even thinking of the same things I am. But then I read the thought after this and it reinforced why this scripture is so profound to me.
"How often do we present ourselves to one another in a similar manner? Cutting away the truth of who we are, we hide the struggles we're facing in our walk with Jesus. To fill the empty spaces, we copy spiritually vapid words into our conversations and paste convincing smiles on our faces. Confronted with our fake presentations, we conceal the truth and end up living two lives. Seemingly perfect, yet truly fabricated.
As believers in Jesus, we're called to cut away the things of old:anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from [our] lips (Colossians 3:8), a difficult task in itself. But putting on the new self is not something we just paste in place. Developing the character of Jesus requires patience and truth with ourselves and with one other."
And this is where Christian Community becomes real and growth comes. So many people are missing this. They cut and paste what they want people to see. They have so many different images they nor you never know which cut and paste person you are talking to. They have thier everyday life cut and paste, they have thier church life cut and paste, and for some even an internet cut and paste. None of it real. None of it truly false either. But yet it is truly missing the richness of the Christian life and the fullness of Christian Community. The thing is our messy Christian life, the messiness of tearing off the cut and paste, wiping away the glue and the technical stuff that holds up our fake facade is what fertilizes the ground. It is when we decide we want something deeper with Christ and those around that the ground becomes rich for growth. Its sad that we think its the fake stuff that makes Community grow, but its good ole' organic realness where we find Christ and the fertile ground of change.
To read the full devotion for today click here.
5 comments:
I liked that one too Sarah.
I know what you mean. That is why I said what I did at the end:
"Its sad that we think its the fake stuff that makes Community grow, but its good ole' organic realness where we find Christ and the fertile ground of change."
even if those who are still in an IC you have to remember that being there is not safe. you can't be yourself, so you find a "safe" cut and paste. its for protection. trust me, I know how this is. I don't think I like calling it a cut and paste thing though, its a safe boundary and one as long as we do this to one another we will always have to have.
oh, I forgot to add, there is a book out there and I have never read it, but like the title; Messy Spirituality: God's Annoying Love for Imperfct People by the late Mike Yaconelli
From the description:
Often our inconsistent prayer lives and inability to keep up with Bible reading plans have left us feeling like failures. However, in Messy Spirituality Mike Yaconelli reminds us that admitting such failure and receiving God's mercy is the first step of true Christian spirituality. Through engaging biblical teaching as well as vivid personal stories Mike will point you towards the Savior who meets and transforms us in the midst of all our messiness.
I love it! isn't that how it really is? anyway, thought I would share that as well.
thanks for sharing Jewels. Even though I work with computers I never thought about my life this way. Awesome analogy, and very convicting. And as hard as I work at authenticity I find I do still occasionally retreat behind the safety of cut and paste. (eg. at my church. And not because I want to look "spiritual", but because I'm afraid my changing beliefs won't be accepted.) Revert to the Original? The fear is, though I probably need to do it, that I won't be good enough anymore. And I would be deleted......
And as hard as I work at authenticity I find I do still occasionally retreat behind the safety of cut and paste. (eg. at my church. And not because I want to look "spiritual", but because I'm afraid my changing beliefs won't be accepted.
unfortunatly that is what we have to decide to do in some of our situations. But I also think there can be honesty within boundaries. maybe that is what you are doing. your aren't cutting and pasting as much as you are setting boundaries, knowing the situation you are in, like Sarah was saying.
The fear is, though I probably need to do it, that I won't be good enough anymore. And I would be deleted......
sad thing is, is this is a valid fear. it has happened to Blake and I. the more we have been upfront about things, the more certian ones have hit the "delete button". it hasn't been easy, but for us and the time we are in, it was the right thing to do.
I like the title of that book too Julie.
:) I think I might have to get one of these days,but the title is good to. HA
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