enJOYing THE
JOURNEY
.
JJ Daniel, Washington State
TAKE OFF THE MASK!
Way too often people put on a mask to go to church, or meet
with a group of people. At church, they have learned to “play the game” and 
“talk the talk” …anyone can easily wear a mask for a
couple hours a week. What a sad thing, that we don’t trust our “God-given
family” enough to just be “real.” Do we feel we can’t be our self… because we
won’t be accepted? Or because we are “not good enough”?
Why do we hide behind a mask? Is it PRIDE, or FEAR or what… that causes us
to want others to think we are something that we’re not?
·
If there is something going on in our life
that we are not happy with…
we
can change that.
·
If there are things in our life that doesn’t
line up to the Word of God…
we
can change that.
·
If we are not all that God designed us to be…
we can change that.
Why would we want to HIDE… rather than get FREE!? I
wonder… does that mean that we also try to hide our true-identity from our
Creator and God? What a silly
thought that is!! Like He doesn’t know every thought and
every deed!!
(I find it interesting that in “October” – I
am writing about “masks” hehehe!! I’m
sure there is some kind of hidden meaning in that!!)
I just came from a weekend Retreat with a group of
ladies… where some were learning to be “real”. Our Pastor taught about
different kind of birds, and challenged us to be the “Eagle” that is down on
the inside of each of us. Some admitted
to being the “Ostrich” who runs and hides and buries their head; others
admitted to being the “Chicken” who is ruled by fear; not so easily identified
is the humming bird who flitters in quickly… grabs a bite of food – and is gone
before you hardly even notice they were there. When I think about all the
things that we “try to be” and all that we do to “hide” the real person on the
inside… I can’t help but wonder how the Father feels about that. The Bible says
that one of the things He “hates” – is “Lies” (deception).
I’m thinkin’ that He really wants His kids to be
“transparent”… His desire is that JESUS is found in each of His kids… is seen
there… is flowing like Rivers of Living Water from there… but how can that even
begin to happen – if we are wearing some kind of mask to disguise who we really
are?
Isn’t the first step of “being like Jesus” – being “real”!?
Isn’t step one of “being free” – admitting that we need
change and freedom, and showing who we are… warts and all?!
And really… very few people are fooled by your mask!!
FYI: Being “real” – with all the ugly stuff needing to be
changed is easier to love than someone wearing a mask and claiming to be
something that they are not!! Deception is
an ugly thing, and no one that I’ve ever met enjoys being lied to! Just think about that a moment.
I think to be the “Light of the World” that Jesus said we
are… to SHINE JESUS every place we go… we have to take of the mask, and stand
transparent before our Father – willing for Him to mold us and make us into the
Image of Jesus Christ.
If you are less than a picture of Jesus… yes, YOU NEED WORK! And honestly… I don’t know anyone who is the
perfect picture of Jesus… yet! Do you?
We’re all in this together people… and NO ONE has
“arrived” at “perfect.” The moment we
do… we’ll be outta’ here, like Enoch was.
It’s okay to have a flaw… if you didn’t, you wouldn’t be
human!! It’s okay to need prayer… that’s
why God gives us each other. It is not okay to live a lie; you can’t get free
there!!
I believe that it is time to TAKE OFF THE MASK CHURCH…
and if we don’t get FREE FROM PRIDE and take off the MASK… God will see that it
comes off. Doing that as a choice, in
obedience to God’s Word… is much easier than when God does it for you.
Selah!!
