II Corinthians 4:2
We reject all shameful and underhanded methods (those things which we tend to hide in our hearts). We do not try to trick anyone and we do not distort the Word of God.
Open me up, Lord!
Let me pray the world's most dangerous prayer!
"Father....right now, here, today........do not let me get away with anything. Uncover me at every turn."
Like that pea pod in the picture above, I desire to be open. As long as the pod is closed, you never truly know what you have (as far as the quality of pea). Crack that bad boy open and then you can see what is inside. I think I'd rather live in openness than to have God "Crack" me open.
Why is it we desire to keep things hidden from others?
In one sense, we even believe that we are keeping our attitudes and behaviors hidden from God's sight. Is that dumb or what? God sees beyond any ability I think I might have to hide things from Him. This behavior comes as a result of the old "sin" nature seeking to have it's way. Isn't it weird the way we try and compartmentalize our lives. "I'll have this little box here for God and church, for looking religious and for phrases and words I can use so that others will see me as being very spiritual." "These other boxes are for my addiction....my pornography....my swearing.....my lusting....etc.....etc....
We try and maintain all the boxes, yet all the while we live a life of deception. Ourselves being the one most deceived.
One of the saying associated with recovery is "We're only as sick as our secrets." In other words, recovery is built upon the fact of being truthful. Of living a life of openness and transparency. I have nothing to hide, so ask me any question you want to, I'll answer it truthfully.
I don't know about you, but it takes a great deal of energy to maintain a life of lies. You're always propping up something with a lie. Then you have to tell another lie to sustain the first one. You tell so many lies, trying to keep things hidden, that you forget where the truth begins and the lies end. So much simpler to live in the light of truth.
II John 1:4 reads: How happy I was to meet some of your children and find them "living in the truth" just as we have been commanded by the Father. living in the truth! What happens if you flip that phrase around and read the opposite? If to live is found in truth, then those who do not allow the truth of God to manifested in their own lives are dying outside of the truth. Not physical death, but spiritual death. The kind of death that carries with it an eternal judgement that will remove you from the presence and promise of God and place you in a place of great torment and agony. I'm not the smartest guy in the room, but I think I want no part of that.
Living in the truth begins with an acknowledgement that we are powerless and our lives reflect this.
Recognizing that I am powerless and the evidence stacking up in front of me, is that my life has become unmanageable. My decisions are not very good and they are covered and fueled by lies and deception. I cannot change the course my life has taken.
Realizing that I am powerless and that my only hope is to find a POWER greater than myself, I begin to search for such POWER. My friend, let me save you some effort...........look to Jesus Christ. He is the HIGHER POWER. He alone possesses the ability to life you up above your old life and give you purpose and POWER to live a new life.
If such things were not so, I would never write about them.
If such things were not so, I would not be living the life I currently live.
Am I trouble free?
Not be a long shot.
But I have a Savior who will see me through whatever comes my way.
Why not consider a change in the way you've always done business with the world?
Why not look into Jesus........
He's got the answers...................
God on you.....
mb
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