~~~ 2 Corinthians 8:1-9 ~~~ Psalm 146 ~~~ Matthew 5:43-48 ~~~
...to test the genuineness of your love
by your concern for others.
Years ago C.S. Lewis wrote,
"We must lay before Him what is in us,
not what ought to be in us.”
Once we face who we really are inside we become
a genuine person.
For some they are only genuine
when they are standing alone at their sink.
The early Christians expressed who they really were
through their concern for others.
Too often we are influenced by the people around us.
Living a genuine life is being who you are
especially when faced with a crisis.
Some people are very skilled at keeping
their true self hidden inside.
Too often we become concerned
about what others think about us.
When this happens there is the chance
that we may sacrifice our true self.
So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Jesus did not expect us to be 'perfect' in the way we might think.
Of course we could never be as perfect
as our heavenly Father,
for he is God.
When we are living in a genuine manner
we are approaching being a whole person.
The person we let people see and the person we privately are
must be the same if we strive to be whole...to be perfect.
Jesus is perfect because
he was genuine in all situations.
Jesus never pretends to be anyone
other than who he is, God.
Those who followed Jesus most closely
were also the ones who were most genuine.
The genuineness of Jesus was a true inspiration
for the disciples to be just as genuine.
It may be a good time for us to inspect our own
ability to be genuine, not just when it is safe
but in all circumstances.
What keeps you from being more genuine?
To be 'perfect' and 'genuine'
requires us to love our neighbor.
This is made possible through
the blessings of grace from God.
~~~Peace~~~
