DAILY BYTE Live beyond the boxes by being real.
One of the legendary Peanuts comic strips was set on the first day of a brand new school year. The students had been asked to write an essay about their feelings on returning to class. In her essay, Lucy wrote, “Vacations are nice, but it’s good to get back to school. There is nothing more satisfying or challenging than education, and I look forward to a year of expanding knowledge.”
The teacher was pleased with Lucy and publicly complimented her on a fine essay. In the final frame of the cartoon, Lucy leans over her desk and whispers to Charlie Brown, “After a while you learn what sells.”
In our society today there can be huge pressure to “learn what sells” and to adapt our lives accordingly. To say what others want us to say, to do what others want us to do - in other words to fit neatly into a box.
The major problem with this of course is that we become afraid to truly be ourselves in case that does not “sell”. We put up masks and pretend to be what we are not in an effort to fit in and please others. In the process we lose ourselves and also “sell” out on the integrity of our own souls.
Strangely enough, Christ-followers can be the absolute worst at this failure in authenticity. We feel a tension between the way we should live to honour God and the way we actually do live. So we pretend to ourselves and others that we are something we are not. In the process we risk putting many people off Christianity.
I say “strangely enough” because Jesus so firmly challenged us towards authenticity in all things – to be real. To be honest and vulnerable about our weaknesses, fears and mistakes.
In today’s focus verse Jesus warns us against pretending to be what we are not in the strongest possible terms.
Don’t fear being real because although others may reject us for it, the Bible promises that God has love enough to accept us as we are and power enough to transform and heal us!
However, for this to happen we have to be real before God.
PRAY AS YOU GO
Thomas a Kempis said, “Be not angry that you cannot make others as you wish them to be, since you cannot make yourself as you wish to be.”
O’ Lord we recognise that the process of personal change becomes so much clearer when we ask you to do it within us. Forgive us of the times we pretend to be what we are not. We ask that you would give us the courage to come before you and others simply as we are. Give us strength enough to be real about even our worst weaknesses and mistakes. Give us compassion enough to learn to accept and love others as they really are. For we know that it is in this way that your Spirit can heal and transform us all. Amen.
FOCUS VERSE
Matthew 7:15-23 (NIV)
Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thorn-bushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.
