BE REAL , DROP THE MASK

People often wear masks to conceal their deepest innermost issues. We hide them from others as we fear their disapproval. Very often Christians wear masks as well. Often, people feel that they must present themselves a certain way in order to fit in at church.

For example, we wear our religious masks to conceal our guilt and shame. Sometimes we wear our happy mask to conceal our fear, anger, hurt, grudges, worry and even depression.

In truth, church is a place where the masks should come off and we should be genuine before God. God’s house is the place where we should bring the undesirable things in our life and lay them before our heavenly father. We should not be concerned about what others think but only about what God knows.

How do you see yourself? When you believe that God sees you as valuable & precious, the apple of His eye -mans opinion won’t really matter.
The attributes of genuine Christen fellowships are love, acceptance and forgiveness – not in word, but in deed. Be real, honest and transparent with one another.

Don’t forget: the foundation for good Christian fellowship is not so much your strength and your abilities, but your weaknesses and your common dependence on God.

• Psa 139:2 You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar.
• Psa 139:3 You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways.
• Psa 139:4 Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O LORD, you know it altogether.

Some observations about the masks we wear:

• We wear masks to conceal things we don’t want others to know.
• Masks are uncomfortable because they force us to stay on our toes and constantly be on our guard of what we say and do.
• It is extremely lonely behind a mask. They force us to keep our distance. They prevent us from opening up and having meaningful relationships.
• God’s doesn’t even look at our mask. His eyes are piercing straight into our heart.

1Ch 28:9 “And you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father and serve him with a whole heart and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches all hearts and understands every plan and thought.

• Col 3:12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
• Col 3:13 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
• Col 3:14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
• Col 3:15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.

HYPOCRITE

We trace “hypocrite” to the Greek word for actor. It comes from the Greek word hypokrisis, which means “play-acting”.
A hypocrite pretends to have virtues, moral or religious beliefs, principles, etc., that he or she does not actually possess.
A person who pretends to be what he or she is not; one who pretends to be pious, virtuous, etc. without really being so

MASQUERADE

Masquerade comes from the French word masque, meaning just what you’d think: mask!
Pretend to be someone or something that you are not
Making a false outward show.

We wear masks because we want people to accept and like us. We wear many different masks, not only to make ourselves look good, but often motivated by a sincere desire to make God look good.
If you are being accepted by the people around you because of a mask, deep down you know that it is only the false front that is being accepted – not the real you.
The problem with wearing masks, is that we end up losing our integrity because we’re not being honest with others or ourselves about who we really are. As Christians we know that God sees behind our masks (Heb. 4:13), and loves us anyway. He has also placed us into a community of fellow believers who also ignore our masks and love us as we are truly are.

• Heb 4:13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
  What are we to put off?
• Col 3:8 But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.
• Col 3:9 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices

what are to put on?

Col 3:10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.

How do we remove our masks and become the person God calls us to be?

1. Recognize God’s enormous love for you.

We are God’s chosen people. We are holy, set apart and dearly loved by God.

• Col 3:12 Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience,
• Col 3:13 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
• Col 3:14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
• Col 3:15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.

Realize that his love is sufficient. God loves you regardless of your social standing or past.

2. Take your focus off yourself

Paul says we are to clothe ourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. This admonishment goes directly in defiance of the teachings of the world. The world tells us to look out for number one (ourselves). Yet God’s Word tells us be compassionate and care about others.
Christianity is not just something you believe, it is something you experience and live.

3. Forgive those who have wronged you.

Very often our mask hides the face of a person unwilling to forgive. “One cannot have a fruitful relationship with God while refusing to forgive others.”
How much are we to forgive? We are to forgive as God has forgiven us.

4. Work at being thankful

Thankfulness has everything to do with happiness. Thankfulness is the preventative medicine that keeps us from being greedy and resentful.Thankfulness keeps us from wallowing in self-pity.
1Th 5:18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Pro 27:19 As in water face reflects face, so the heart of man reflects the man.

Pr 4:23 Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.

BE REAL , EXPOSE YOURSELF TO GOD!

Rom 8:38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers,
Rom 8:39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.