Thursday May 26, 2011

Speaker: Ben Sigman

Theme: Go Fish

Weekend Music links on iTunes: All Because of Jesus - Fee, Run - Hillsong, For Who You Are - Hillsong, Forever Reign - Hillsong

Read: 1 John 1

Think: Jesus told His disciples that they would be fishers of men… and we as his present – day disciples get that opportunity too as Pastor Ben helped us see. But before we can share our faith we have to take on a certain persona, adopt a special perspective – and you know what that is? TO GET REAL and be ourselves!

Authentic relationships and authentic conversations can only happen with authentic people.  In order to have the right to share our faith with people we can’t settle for superficial, surface-level chit-chat. It’s genuine, heart-to-heart, sometimes gut-level sharing that works.

When we are honest and authentic then the people around us can get honest about who they are and what is happening in their lives. They share their hurts, reveal their feelings, disclose their doubts, admit their fears and ask for help…

Authenticity is the exact opposite of what you find in a lot of our communities, neighborhoods and even dare I say, churches!!! Instead of an atmosphere of honesty and humility, there is pretending, role-playing, politicking, and superficial politeness, but shallow conversation. People wear masks, keep their guard up, and act as if everything is rosy in their lives. These attitudes are the death of real friendship and the death of any chance of real conversation.

It’s only as we become open about our lives that we experience authentic community and the right stage to share our faith in Jesus. The Bible says, “If we live in the light, as God is in the light, we can share fellowship with each other . . . If we say we have no sin, we are fooling ourselves” (1 John 1:7-8 NCV).

The world thinks intimacy occurs in the dark, but God says it happens in the light. We tend to use darkness to hide our hurts, faults, fears, failures, and flaws. But in the light, we bring them all out into the open and show who we really are. Of course, being authentic requires both courage and humility. It means facing our fear of exposure, rejection, and maybe being hurt.

Why in the world then should we take such a risk?

Because it’s the only way to grow spiritually and be emotionally healthy, AND I think it’s the only way people can really hear us when we share about what it means to be a follower of Christ!  So stand out in the crowd simply by being real!

Do: Take a little time and examine how you hide, deflect, put on your game face when dealing with others.

Pray: Lord, I don’t have to have it all together because YOU have it all together. Thank you that though I am sinful you are sinless. And through You, all my shortcomings are made right. Help me to be real for the people in my life so that through my failings they can see a God who will never fail them. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

The eDevotional is written each week by a team of volunteers from Timberlake Church.