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“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” Psalm 139:14a (NIV)
During elementary school, my daughter was friendly and outgoing. But when she entered middle school she changed. Being friendly to everyone in sixth grade wasn’t cool. Peyton quickly found out if she didn’t conform to her friend’s new standards she’d be an outcast. Worst of all was the betrayal. When she didn’t change to be like her friends, they spilled her secrets.
That’s when it happened. Peyton started wearing masks to fit in and please people.
She hid her accepting and sweet personality, and lost her true identity. Almost like a masquerade ball, she’d wear a different personality or mask, acting in ways her friends would want.
There was only one problem. Peyton was miserable hiding behind her masks and pretending to be someone she wasn’t. Sound familiar?
I think most of us understand Peyton’s need to fit in. It’s one reason we wear our own masks. To please others. To hide our pain. To disguise fears and failures. We put on fronts to protect ourselves from an unaccepting world. And in doing so, we mask our true identity and lose our individuality.
Why do we keep up the masquerade? Because we want acceptance.
And often we’re willing to lose who we truly are in order to keep important relationships, like friends or family members. Most of us can recall a situation when a trusted person hurt us by judging our God-given personalities, traits and talents.
In our attempt to hide our insecurity or avoid betrayal and hurt, we create a maskóa look we’re willing to let the world see in order to be accepted.
I was determined to help Peyton stop doing this very thing. I encouraged her to return to truth. God didn’t create us to conform to other’s standards, but to stand out through our own God-given uniqueness. Our key verse reminds us that we are fearfully and wonderfully made. This truth gave her the courage to remember who she was before she put on the masks.
Soon Peyton found friends who were like-minded, and started participating in activities that reflected her interests. By being true to her identity and rekindling her dreams, Peyton has followed her God-given purpose. Today, she’s studying foreign language in college and hopes to teach in Japan or work on the mission field.
Maybe someone along the way has discouraged you. Put you down for being creative, quietly reading books, or loving adventures. Or maybe for dreaming big, or laughing loudly, or enjoying working with your hands. Perhaps a parent, teacher, pastor, friend or even a stranger didn’t accept how God created you to be and you transformed yourself to fit in their preferences.
God sees behind our masks; He loves us and longs for us to be free from the fear of being rejected. If you’re constantly changing masks to fit in, then you know the awful burden of maintaining the false you. Aren’t you ready to stop the masquerade? Listen closely and hear God confirming to your heart today, “You are wonderfully made.”
Dear Lord, I desire freedom to lay down my masks and be myself. Help me identify my false sense of self. Enable me to recapture the person I was before I started masking my fears and insecurities. I no longer want to fit in where I don’t belong. I want to be all You created me to be. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Bear misunderstandings
•• Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake,”
•• Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you,” (Matt. 5:11, 12).
To be misunderstood, even by those whom one loves, is the cross and bitterness of life. It is the secret of that sad and melancholy smile on the lips of great men which so few understand. It is the cruellest trial reserved for self-devotion. It is what must have oftenest wrung the heart of the Son of Man; and if God could suffer, it would be the wound we should be for ever inflicting upon Him. He also–He, above all-is the great misunderstood, the least comprehended .•• He was accustomed to this,” says Henry Drummond .•• ‘Tis because He was accustomed to walk by a light that others could seldom see. All His life He had been misunderstood-by His disciples, by His relations, by His enemies, by His friends.”
Alas I, alas I, never to tire, never to grow cold; to be patient, sympathetic, tender; to look for the budding flower and the open¬ing heart; to love always-this is duty.
Martin Luther said, •• I am persuaded that for the last hundred years, there has not existed a man whom the world at large hated more than it hates me. You cannot know how delighted I am, at seeing day after day my adversaries rising higher in their fury against me. I never feel prouder, more full of lofty daring than when I hear from time to time their denunciations upon me,”
Yesterday’s heretics often become to-day’s saints.
Christians differ on the fitting age for full initiation into the life of the church. For those who practice infant baptism, the question centers on when someone is ready for confirmation and first Communion. Some think the “age of discretion” is age 12, because it’s the age at which Jesus encountered the teachers of the Law and probably had his bar mitzvah, when he could fully participate in Jewish worship.
For those who believe baptism should be reserved for believers, the question centers on when one is capable of truly repenting and embracing Christ in wholehearted discipleship. Some emphasize the adult character of this decision, making baptism a post-puberty rite. For others, the age is much lower; some even baptize toddlers.
Some guidelines for determining an appropriate age: First, we should not impose some arbitrary age. God works sovereignly in the lives of all persons made in his image. Each child should be dealt with individually and encouraged toward every “step toward Jesus” without manipulating for an early decision. Second, we need to develop a proper understanding of God’s relationship to children. The Bible seems to indicate that the children of believing parents stand in a special providential relationship to the people and promises of God (see 1Co 7:14). It is the responsibility of parents and the church to lead those children by prayers, instruction and example toward true faith in Christ.
There are basically two positions on this question. Some say the people in these verses were saved, but by falling away, lost their salvation. They support their view by observing that: (1) These people had a relationship with Christ; (2) they had escaped corruption; (3) they had since become entangled again, worse than before. They also see the tragic results as reasons why the New Testament warnings against falling away are so vital (see, for example, Gal 5:4; Heb 6:4-6).
Others disagree and see salvation as an irrevocable gift. They believe people can appear to be saved-they know about Jesus and that their lifestyles appear to improve. But this view concludes that such changes are merely superficial and that such people were never truly saved in the first place. Those who hold this position see a distinction between genuine Christians and those who merely dabble in Christianity for a time (see, for example, Ro 8:38-39; 1Jn 2:19).
A third view incorporates elements of both of these positions. This view says some people fall away because they were never sincere in their faith while others fall away because they neglected their faith. The dividing line in these various opinions seems to depend on one’s view of God’s grace: Are God’s promises irrevocable or do they depend on our response? Do we have eternal security in Christ or do we have conditional security in Christ? These questions may never be reconciled this side of heaven.
If the preaching of the Gospel was central to the ministry of Jesus, we dare not suffer under the delusion that we are being faithful to His example if we fail to preach the Gospel today. As Christians, we are called to preach the good news, if not as part of a formal call to ministry then as a part of our everyday interactions with friends and family. It is also important to encourage those pastors who labor in the faithful exposition of God’s Word.
Paul confessed that only through the saving grace of Jesus did he receive eternal life. Because Paul was aware of the depth of his sinfulness (he had been a persecutor of Christ’s followers), he was especially sensitive to the abundant grace Jesus had “poured out” on his behalf (1 Timothy 1:14). Through Jesus, God made the supreme sacrifice to deliver this staggering grace to sinners like us and Paul.
Jesus’ voluntary sacrifice on our behalf demonstrates a key attribute of God: grace. While mercy refers to what God doesn’t give that we do deserve (punishment), grace refers to what God gives that we don’t deserve (life with him for eternity). Throughout Jewish history, God showed his mercy by giving his people more chances to avoid judgment. Ultimately, he showed the extent of his grace by offering his own Son as a substitute for the sin of all humankind.
Jesus graciously and voluntarily became the substitute that paid the punishment for humankind’s unholy rebellion against God. In this way, Jesus’ death also shows another key attribute of God: his love (see John 3:16). Jesus extends to the undeserving- to Paul and to each of us- the very grace of God, which is evidence that Jesus is indeed the Son of God.
I’m beyond tired�physically, emotionally and mentally.
I could go on and on. But then I would be beyond depressed.
When feeling like this, I realize I have to get my mind out of the gutter and anchor myself on God’s promises.
I have to be intentional to focus on a different set of “beyond” statements or I quickly find myself in a pit. I know this from experience. Even if the “beyond” statements above are true, there are others that are also true.
I am beyond blessed:From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another.John 1:16*
I am beyond strong:Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.Joshua 1:9
I am beyond secure:Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.John 14:27
I am beyond safe:Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life; you stretch out your hand against the anger of my foes, with your right hand you save me.Psalm 138:7
I am beyond hopeful:“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”Jeremiah 29:11
I am beyond loved:But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation.Psalm 13:5
I am beyond valued:For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.John 3:16
I am beyond forgiven:Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”Luke 7:48
I am beyond found:Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, “Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.”Luke 15:4-6
I am beyond complete:So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority.Colossians 2:10 (NLT)
I can’t trust my feelings, or even circumstances, to tell me how I am. They change like the wind. Up one moment and easily shot down the next. His Word however, never changes. Its ceaseless truths go beyond emotions and whatever my day holds to anchor me to hope.
Some days, weeks or even seasons of life are discouraging and we can’t see beyond the pain, hurt and stress. Searching God’s Word for His view of our circumstances and us lifts our eyes off the problems and onto Him. He’s our ultimate source of truth and encouragement!
Dear Lord, thank You for recording Your Word for me to reflect on and find truth in. Thank You for giving hope and peace beyond my feelings and circumstances. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Matthew 4:2-4 “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God” (v. 4).
Having come into the world to save His people (Matt. 1:21), Jesus begins His ministry when He identifies with God’s chosen, Israel, in His baptism and follows the Spirit into the wilderness to face Satan (3:13-4:1). In the desert, Jesus shows Himself to be the new Israel, the second Adam and true Son of God, so that His disciples can be adopted as the Father’s children ( John 1:9-13).
When the Devil comes to Jesus in today’s passage, the Messiah has been “fasting forty days and forty nights” and is obviously hungry (Matt. 4:2). This reveals the hard place in which Jesus finds Himself. Scripture often associates forty days and nights with difficult circumstances. For example, Elijah endured the same period without food while on the run from Ahab and Jezebel ( 1 Kings 19:1-8). The setting of Jesus’ testing is similarly arduous and presents a challenge that Adam, who lived in Eden’s bliss, never faced.
Satan wants Jesus to turn from His vocation as the Suffering Servant when he challenges Him to turn stones to bread (Matt. 4:3). We know this to be true because the Devil’s challenge is just like the one the crowd hurls at Jesus in Matthew 27:40, where the people mock Him, calling upon Him to come down from the cross. Of course, doing this would mean that Jesus distrusts both His Father’s promises to save the elect through His death and to vindicate His Son’s affliction (Isa. 53). Jesus has been sent into the desert to endure fasting and suffering until His appointed time (Matt. 4:1 ). To seek sustenance contrary to God’s appointment would repeat the mistake of Israel who was similarly tested for faithfulness (Deut. 8:1-3) and disobeyed when they grumbled and refused to follow the Lord’s directions when He sent manna from heaven (Ex. 16).
Yet Christ refuses to use His divine power to circumvent His task of suffering service. He is not willing to stuff His belly and stand before the Father emptied of righteousness. Jesus will be satisfied to eat the food given Him – doing the will of God (John 4:34) – even if His physical hunger is not satiated. Our Lord understands, as the church father Jerome said, that “if anyone does not feed upon God’s Word, that one will not live” (Commentary on Matthew,1.4.4).
Coram deo: Living before the face of God
Matthew Henry comments, “Lack and poverty are a great temptation to discontent and unbelief, and the use of unlawful means for our relief, under the pretence that necessity has no law.” Despite His hunger pains, our Lord chose the food of His Father and embraced His mission of suffering. Let us follow Him and not let a potential loss of money or fame prevent us from embracing the mission of service He has given to us.
No. There are difficulties in conveying the idea of the original language into English. As a result, some readers may feel that this passage indicates God doesn’t recognize our struggle with sin. They think that one sin causes them to lose their place in heaven.
In reality God sees our struggle all too well. He does not expect new Christians to mature and bear fruit over night. But John emphasizes an increasing conformity of a person’s will to the will of God. If, however, a person shows no sign of change, and in fact his life is characterized by sin, John says that the person has not been born of God. Also see verse 6. The word “continue” is the key to this answer.
1WHAT LEADS to strife (discord and feuds) and how do conflicts (quarrels and fightings) originate among you? Do they not arise from your sensual desires that are ever warring in your bodily members?
2You are jealous and covet [what others have] and your desires go unfulfilled; [so] you become murderers. [To hate is to murder as far as your hearts are concerned.] You burn with envy and anger and are not able to obtain [the gratification, the contentment, and the happiness that you seek], so you fight and war. You do not have, because you do not ask. [I John 3:15.]
3[Or] you do ask [God for them] and yet fail to receive, because you ask with wrong purpose and evil, selfish motives. Your intention is [when you get what you desire] to spend it in sensual pleasures.
4You [are like] unfaithful wives [having illicit love affairs with the world and breaking your marriage vow to God]! Do you not know that being the world’s friend is being God’s enemy? So whoever chooses to be a friend of the world takes his stand as an enemy of God.
5Or do you suppose that the Scripture is speaking to no purpose that says, The Spirit Whom He has caused to dwell in us yearns over us and He yearns for the Spirit [to be welcome] with a jealous love?
6But He gives us more and more grace ([a]power of the Holy Spirit, to meet this evil tendency and all others fully). That is why He says, God sets Himself against the proud and haughty, but gives grace [continually] to the lowly (those who are humble enough to receive it).
7So be subject to God. Resist the devil [stand firm against him], and he will flee from you.
8Come close to God and He will come close to you. [Recognize that you are] sinners, get your soiled hands clean; [realize that you have been disloyal] wavering individuals with divided interests, and purify your hearts [of your spiritual adultery].
9[As you draw near to God] be deeply penitent and grieve, even weep [over your disloyalty]. Let your laughter be turned to grief and your mirth to dejection and heartfelt shame [for your sins].
10Humble yourselves [feeling very insignificant] in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you [He will lift you up and make your lives significant].
11[My] brethren, do not speak evil about or accuse one another. He that maligns a brother or judges his brother is maligning and criticizing the Law and judging the Law. But if you judge the Law, you are not a practicer of the Law but a censor and judge [of it].
12One only is the Lawgiver and Judge Who is able to save and to destroy [the One Who has the absolute power of life and death]. [But you] who are you that [you presume to] pass judgment on your neighbor?
13Come now, you who say, Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a city and spend a year there and carry on our business and make money.
14Yet you do not know [the least thing] about what may happen tomorrow. What is the nature of your life? You are [really] but a wisp of vapor (a puff of smoke, a mist) that is visible for a little while and then disappears [into thin air].
15You ought instead to say, If the Lord is willing, we shall live and we shall do this or that [thing].
16But as it is, you boast [falsely] in your presumption and your self-conceit. All such boasting is wrong.
17So any person who knows what is right to do but does not do it, to him it is sin. – Amplified Bible
Footnotes:
James 4:6 Adam Clarke, The Holy Bible with A Commentary.
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