Go ahead...be undone

God gives out Wisdom free, is plainspoken in Knowledge and Understanding. He’s a rich mine of Common Sense for those who live well, a personal bodyguard to the candid and sincere. He keeps his eye on all who live honestly, and pays special attention to his loyally committed ones. (Proverbs 2:6-8)

Let's look at two traits described in this passage - being sincere and steadfast. To be sincere, one must be free of hypocrisy, deceit, or falseness; totally earnest in their pursuits; genuine or real in their living. To be steadfast, one must be fixed in one's direction - what we may refer to as being steadily directed. This also calls for us to be firm in our purpose, resolute; firmly established in our path. For the one whose life is tapped into the wisdom, knowledge and understanding which only comes from being intimately connected with Christ, these traits are assured, but we must work to see them incorporated into each and every area of our lives. Most of us desire to live free of hypocrisy, yet when it comes to being totally "real", it is quite a different story, isn't it? We somehow perceive we will be "judged" for being who we 'really' are, so we "play act" a little to kind of "cover up" what we think others don't want to know about us. Truth be told, the other person is probably doing the same thing. Steadfastness is something we equate to the "never say die" mentality. We label someone as steadfast when we see them going the extra mile, undaunted by failure, or simply "plugging away" even when others have given up. When the going gets hard, most of us wish someone would actually come alongside and just tell us it is okay to quit!

God expects sincerity. Plain and simple. No backing down on this one, friends. There is something which can only be displayed in the sincerity of our lives, so trying to be something other than what we really are is doing God's grace in our lives a disservice! Sincerity in a scriptural sense is really the evidence of pure desires and motives. We all veer from this at times, but God knows the intent of the heart and he is not distracted by our failures! In fact, he is encouraged when we come back to him with our failures and actually lay them at his feet. He knows there is something he can do in us at that point. Look at what our passage says: He is a personal bodyguard to the candid and sincere. A bodyguard is an "escort" of sorts - purposed to protect the one they are escorting. God has his eye on us, even in the midst of our failure, and his purposed plan it to protect us! God also expects steadfastness. If you ever struggle with sincerity even a little bit, you probably also struggle with this one, as well. Sincerity opens the door for us to be steadily directed in our path. When we are real about our struggles, God is consistent in his direction. Consistency is one of the character traits of a good bodyguard. He is ever vigilant to keep an eye on specific things which could potentially 'trip us up'. His vigilance is unwavering. We can stand assured, God is steadfast in his commitment to us, even in our wavering condition! His vigilance over our lives never ends.

Sincerity and steadfastness give us a pretty solid foundation upon which we might walk. I know this because I struggled with sincerity for a long time. I tried to hide behind all kinds of facades - both good and bad. Then one day, I came to the realization it was too hard keeping the facades straight! I could not remember which one I wore in which circumstance. Maybe you have found yourself in the same place. What you lack in sincerity you will reveal as lacking in steadfastness because the foundation is not solid! Remember, God doesn't expect perfection - he examines the motives (the heart). Just because the heart is sincere doesn't mean every action will be perfect. It means we will easily recognize when we aren't acting as we should! It also means we will quickly seek to rectify the wrong action! There is a relationship between the sincerity of heart and the firmness of the foundation upon which we stand. If the heart is fickle, constantly moved this way and that by every emotional whim, the foundation will be pretty shoddy. The closer we get to being real with God, allowing him to make us "comfortable" with who we really are, and then allow him to remove the masks we wear, the better the foundation will be in our lives. God keeps his eyes on all who live honestly - he pays special attention to those committed to living according to his purpose. It cannot be said any better! We may be a little shocked to examine ourselves in the light of God's Word - seeing ourselves as we really are. In the moments which ensue after we first recognize the lack of foundation, we may feel a little "undone". Yet, it is in our "undoing" that God is free to begin his "doing" in our lives. Just sayin!

Feedback

"We all need people who will give us feedback. That's how we improve." (Bill Gates) There is a principle taught in scripture of iron sharpening iron.  In essence, it implies it takes something a little abrasive to actually put a sharp edge on us.  The "tuning up" of our character is not done so much in the little "off-hand" comments, but in the times we actually sit face-to-face and listen with intent to what the other person is telling us.  It may not be perfect, nor may it be comfortable, but if our heart is open to actually learn from each other, we each have so much to share.  As I have said before, we only see half of ourselves in a mirror, but the other individual sitting across from us has seen us back and front!

In the same way that iron sharpens iron, a person sharpens the character of his friend. (Proverbs 27:17 VOICE)

I saw a post recently reminding us not to change to get people to like us.  The rest of the quote just reminded us to be ourselves and then the "right people" will love us.  I'd have to change that a little by saying we need to be constantly changing, but in a way which is reflective of the strength and character of Christ.   In the end, others will be drawn to what they see in us - some out of curiosity because they don't understand the hope and peace they see in us; others because the long for that same character in themselves.  Yes, it is important to be genuine in our actions - that makes us "real".  It is also important to be genuine in our desire to embrace what Christ wants to change within each of us so that we settle into his peace and learn of his love.

Another friend posted a photo of a sign they saw in someone's lawn which told people to shut off the TVs and social media feeds and then go out to actually meet their neighbors. I must say, in the wake of devastatingly horrific events leaving people grieving the loss of loved ones and the maiming of others, it is imperative we do both.  We need to be people who see beyond ourselves and we need to be people who become the kind of people others can trust.  Trust isn't built behind walls - it is built when we live our lives openly - even when it may reflect less than perfect character on occasion!

Probably one of the best quotes I saw this week was of a farmer, tenderly stroking his horse, and the caption read:  "I am not a perfect person. I make a lot of mistakes.  But I really appreciate those people who look beyond my mistakes, who see my big heart, who stay with me after knowing how I really am and who love me no matter what." (Author Unknown) These are the kind of people we want to become, my friends.  The kind of people who remain true to who and what we are, are open to change when the change will make us better at the core of our being, but who are also willing to love people who are living this way, too!

We all need change - none of us has "arrived" yet when it comes to "perfect character". The road to change is long and hard at times, but when we stay real as we travel that distance between what we are today and what God is helping us to become, we will be able to enjoy the journey so much more.  There is nothing more liberating than to be genuine and there is nothing more joyful than to be embraced by others who are willing to get real with us! Just sayin!

And the "plot" thickens!

Have you ever just plotted to do something you knew was wrong?  You know what I mean - rehearsing what you will say, how you will respond, or what you will do when someone does or says something you don't like.  Those are the moments in life I'd like to say I am less "proud" of than some of the others, but if we were to be honest I think we might all have done (or still do this) on occasion.  We feel like some "right" is violated by another - either by their action, inaction, or what they say or how they say it.  Relationships are tough business and it is hard to remain committed to the idea of being entirely genuine within them - because it means you and I will be putting ourselves out there in a rather vulnerable manner.  To do this is kind of scary.  Maybe this is why so many relationships in our world today are nothing more than superficial and why we have a definition for "acquaintance" in our dictionary!  We don't feel comfortable being real, much less do we feel comfortable staying real when we do or say something embarrassing!

It’s a mistake to make evil plans, but you will have loyal friends if you want to do right. (Proverbs 14:22 CEV)

If we consider our passage in light of the other relationship advice Solomon provides in the Book of Proverbs (also referred to as the Book of Wisdom), we kind of see this pattern of being "relationally real".  In times past, people had no social media to keep them "in touch" with the happenings in the lives of those they knew, much less connected to people half-way around the world who they have never met, but who share fun quips or play online games with them.  In fact, they had daily encounters with live human beings - making it a whole lot harder to escape their "up front and personal" scrutiny of the other person's life! Being there "in the flesh" has a much more "personal" focus and can often make it harder for one to "cover up" or "mask" their true emotions.  When we have been active in "plotting" or "making evil plans", it shows!

Likewise, when we are truly working to become comfortable with being "our real selves" (both when we are up-front-and-personal and "behind the scenes" in our lives), we find ourselves entering into relationship "territory" which we seldom get into otherwise.  Maybe this is the importance of being genuine - we get into areas we wouldn't have had access to before in another's life.  In turn, they have access into areas of our lives which we'd not have given them admittance to without this type of transparency.  To truly have this kind of friendship with another is a rarity these days - because we allow ourselves to be one way behind the scenes, but portray another image of ourselves to the "public view" through the filters of social media and the like.

To do right in relationship, one must be committed to this idea of genuineness. There can be no growth if we are superficial and unwilling to be genuine about what it is we struggle with, what keeps us from moving on in life, and the like. We need each other's encouragement to overcome some of these things as much as they need ours.  It is much easier to plot how we will act or respond when someone does something we don't like or which will hurt us.  It is quite another to "plot" to do good in the face of evil, to respond lovingly when another just isn't very loving, and to refrain from pulling into one's shell when the threat of being exposed gets a little too uncomfortable!  If we are to grow in Christ, and in relationship with each other, we need this kind of "good plotting" to occur!  

I don't have many people who are genuine with me in life.  Some relationships I have remain superficial no matter how much I have worked on them.  The other person is just not willing to let their guard down.  It isn't because they cannot trust me, but they won't trust me.  There is something holding them back from being genuine with me.  It might take me a long time to model genuineness in my own life in the face of the other guy putting up all kinds of facades, but if I continue long enough, they will either learn there is no "evil intent" in my actions, or they will walk away.  I pray it isn't the latter, but it is a matter of choice for us to remain genuine in the face of the facade around us.  In time, we don't know what someone will see in us which brightens their day, gives hope where despair has been lingering, or just encourage them to take one more step forward.  Just sayin!

Get Real!!!!

What makes something "stand out" to you?  If I use BOLD font in my post, I am doing so because I want those particular words to "stand out".  If I were to parade down the sidewalk wearing all black, emblazoned with all kinds of chains and tattoos  would you think I might be trying to "stand out" a little from the gal or guy next to me?  When a company wants to gain the market share of business, they spend a whole lot of money on trying to find the "brand" which will make them "stand out" as the one to trust.  The purpose of "standing out" is usually to call attention to, think of first and foremost, be the "go to" in your life.  Jesus tells his disciples something entirely different about being the "go to" in life - "standing out" really being a result of "stepping down". 

Do you want to stand out? Then step down. Be a servant. If you puff yourself up, you’ll get the wind knocked out of you. But if you’re content to simply be yourself, your life will count for plenty.  (Matthew 23:11-12 MSG)

Most of us may not come right out and say it, but we hope our life will count for something when it is all said and done.  We want some type of legacy to leave.  In fact, most of us will say we want to be "known" a certain way right here and now, not just when we are gone from this earth.  Jesus has been dealing with the practice of the religious scholars and leaders of the time.  He points out their practice of talking a good talk, but really not living as they talk.  You have probably heard the expression, "Walk the talk, and talk the walk".  I think this is the thing Jesus is pointing out - there was a whole lot of talk, but the walk was missing.

The thing Jesus was saying is these religious leaders were trying to act as some kind of "expert" over the lives of those who were "under" them in the community.  In those days, the scholars were the "elite" - they exercised the authority over the others in the community.  Jesus cautions against allowing any man to rise to this level - as there is really only one who deserves this position in our lives and it is God himself.  I think Jesus was probably going all the way back to the Law of Moses and point out one of those Ten Commandments which referred to us having no other gods but God.  Don't think for a moment that the religious posturing of these leaders didn't capture the notice of Jesus - he was all over their appearance of godliness without the heart evidence to "back up" their claims.

In contrast, Jesus tells us if we want to "stand out" we need to actually "step down".  A couple days ago, I wrote about the "knees-feet" connection - finding strength only as we come to a place of admitting our weakness.  Today, I want us to see this similar connection - "simplicity-plenty".  When we are willing to live in simplicity (sincerity), we come into a place of plenty (fullness and abundance).  Jesus points out the beauty of being ourselves.  To some, this might seem a little overwhelming at first because we don't really "trust" what we "are" as of worth or value.  So, standing out as our genuine selves is a little overwhelming.

The moment we begin to trust Jesus with who we are (the real us), there is liberty which begins to set us free to come into a place of abundance.  We may not be able to trust others with our "real self" at first, but when we find the ability to get real with Jesus and see he doesn't love us any less for who we really are, the easier it becomes to begin to live as our "real selves" in the open.  We don't need the "masks" of religious pursuit to hide behind - it is okay to be genuine.  Too many times, people are turned off by the masks of religious people.  They see the pretense, but not the reality of it lived out.  What is talked is not walked.  So, Jesus says we begin to exercise the greatest influence over others not in the pursuit of the religious "stuff", but in the simplicity of our genuineness of character.

Seems contrary to what we see modeled around us, huh?  People "campaign" for the spot of recognition - whether it is a political race, or the attempt of a company to get their brand noticed most as the one this world needs.  All this really does is get a name out there - if the "product" doesn't live up to the expectations of the one "buying into" it, the word on the street soon turns to an account of how disappointing the reality of the "product" was.  The truth is, we learn to trust what is real or genuine.  We learn to distrust what is nothing more than posturing or pretense.  Maybe this is why Jesus focuses so much on the internal character of a man.  He was always pointing to the idea of what is on the inside being evident in what comes out of a man.

Wanna stand out - then stand down.  Be genuine.  Get real with yourself, then with God.  In so doing, you will begin to speak volumes beyond whatever posturing you could do to present any other image to the world!  Just sayin!

Overalls anyone?

I saw a sign the other day which read, "Love is faith in overalls".  Let that one sink in a little, but don't lose sight of the image it conjures up, as well.  Think of you in overalls.  When I thought about overalls for a moment, I envisioned two types - the ones made of denim worn as the replacement to pants by a farmer, and the ones which slip over your clothes.  They are different, aren't they?  One is actually the "clothing" you wear - without them, you'd be a little naked.  The other is only a covering "over" our clothes - we don't actually take off our clothes, but are protecting what is underneath by this outer layer of cloth.  Now, back to our quote - which type of "overall" would you equate with love?  The type you wear "over" yourself, or the type which becomes what you might refer to as what really "clothes" you?

For in Christ, neither our most conscientious religion nor disregard of religion amounts to anything. What matters is something far more interior: faith expressed in love. (Galations 5:6 MSG)

I think the author of our quote might really have been saying what Paul said here to the Galation church - faith expresses itself.  There is action to faith - not just some set of rules, ethereal beliefs, or standards by which we live.  There is a definite "outflow" from what is on the inside.  Paul was really dealing with the idea of the two sets of overalls - one merely covers over, the other becomes that which clothes us well.

We often attempt to equate love with something other than faith - but the two go hand in hand.  Our society has a very distorted idea about love, so understanding it from the perspective of scripture is important.  Love is not a set of emotions or something we "fall into".  It is indeed a deeply-rooted "outflow" of something within us.  If we remember this, we might be less inclined to "fall into" it, but rather allow it to "flow out" of us!

Paul's focus is on the interior of our lives.  The type of overalls I described the farmer wearing is worn very close to his body.  There is not a whole lot between his nakedness and the outside world!  I think this is the kind of faith God looks for in us - the kind which is not afraid to be genuine.  The world needs genuine people - those who admit their mistakes, don't give an air of perfection, but rather reveal both the genuineness of their humanity and the reality of their connection with Christ's forgiveness.  The farmer's overalls don't mask his nakedness.  I think of those overalls as doing what grace does in our lives - they provide a covering for our sin or nakedness.

Too many times, we seem to settle for just "covering up" the things which we think the world doesn't need to see.  We wear our "faith" like a pair of "coveralls" - merely covering over all the other "layers" of stuff underneath.  We never really get genuine with people - choosing instead to mask what it is we "wear" and "bear" under an outer protective barrier.  The one who dons the mechanic's coveralls wants nothing more than a barrier - hoping to strip them off and see everything just as it was when he put them on.  The problem is that we never really allow others to see us as we really are.

The farmer gets his overalls on knowing he might just get a little dirty, wet, and even a little sweaty in his daily dealings - he will be "real" in his activity and his activity will produce "real" outcomes which might just affect him a little, as well.  He also knows he can take these overalls off at the end of the day, bathe, and be as fresh as a daisy.  In other words, in being genuine, we might find ourselves affected by what we touch.  In the end, we can always return to the place of grace - the place of cleansing and renewal.  Love isn't afraid to get itself dirty - the genuine expression of faith in action.

Some time in the 70's bib overalls were "fashionable" for a brief period of time.  We chose to sport them as our clothing because they were "cool".  Some sewed all kinds of patches on them, making various statements.  Others embroidered things on them, jazzing them up.  Still others wore them just as they were.  They came in colors - not just the plain blue denim.  They were the "thing" we wore.  It was short-lived, as most fads are.  But...there is something I remember about those overalls - they were really comfortable to wear!  You felt very relaxed in them - movement was easy, there was plenty of room in them, and you just knew you could do almost anything in them. 

There is something about grace which allows us to move freely, almost as though we had "room" to be real.  When love is met with love, genuineness is easy.  Maybe it is time for us to consider which type of "love" we are "wearing" - the type which only covers over who we really are underneath, or the type which reveals the genuineness of our person.  Just sayin!