authentic living

"He called a little child and had him stand among them. And he said: 'I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.'"--Matthew 18:2-4

Have you ever noticed that babies have no concern whatsoever about their personal image? Little kids are like that a lot of the time too, but at some point all humans begin to make choices in light of the way those choices will be viewed by others. For example, Lewis is never concerned about how he might look chewing on his hands, feet or any other object that may come his way. If he makes a loud, bodily noise he does not look around in shame or embarassment. When he is playing with a toy he likes, he smiles, and if he is bored, he starts to fuss. There is no thought in his mind when someone gives him a gift to pretend to like it to spare their feelings. No one expects him to be anything but genuine because that is all he is capable of being.

It occurred to me that Lewis is at a precious age of undeniable honesty. There is very little, if any, manipulation going on yet because he's just not capable of it. I can trust that when he refuses to kiss me, for example, at my consistent request, that it is not because he doesn't love me--he just doesn't want to at that moment. Smiles and laughs are real. Cries and yells are authentic.

Maybe this is why God wants us to come to him like little children. He surely wants us to come without pretense, without masks to cover our true selves. He knows our hearts anyway so there is no reason to put up a front like we are something different or better than we really are. In a world where there is pressure from every angle to live up to the expectations of others, it is refreshing to have a God who sees us the way we are, and loves us despite the ugly parts of us. That is not to say that He merely overlooks sin. No, like a loving parent, He will discipline us for our own good and for His glory. Just like we will not allow our kids to run out in the street, He will not allow us to do things that will bring eventual harm to ourselves, our families, and His body, the church, without consequences.

Sometimes the hardest part is humbling OURSELVES. Seeing myself the way God does is not fun. Self-deception is far more comfortable. We do this when we compare ourselves to others and think, "I'm at least better than that guy." This attitude enables us to hold on to "little" sins that we enjoy. Unfortunately, it builds a wall around my heart that keeps others out and limits my relationship with the Lord. It's like constantly putting a rug over a stain on the floor. The stain is still there, we just avoid looking at it for as long as possible and sometimes even forget that it exists.

Here are a few questions to think about in authentic living:

--Is there anyone you are COMPLETELY honest with in your life? Are you willing to let people hold you accountable for areas you struggle in?

--Are there parts of your life you try to keep hidden? Do you live in fear that people would reject you if they really get to know you?

--Think about the most genuine person you know (over age 1!). What do enjoy most about that relationship? How can you emulate these traits in your own life?

--In contrast--are there people around me who I need to wary of? Please do not look around to be judgmental, but ask the Lord for discernment in whom to trust. Beware of those who are eager to ask for favors, rarely (truly) apologetic and overly defensive (the opposite of humble). If you get that feeling in your gut, it may be the Holy Spirit showing you to be careful.

Join me in working toward this kind of living. Genuine people, like Lewis, are so refreshing to be around because authenticity rubs off and allows you to be you!