Who… Are You?
Other Messages
In our daily lives, we often wear masks – projections of our personality intended to portray a certain image. This isn’t inherently negative; we all use these masks to navigate social situations, present a professional front, or to protect ourselves. However, problems arise when these masks prevent us from revealing our true selves, keeping us distant from others and God.
Our need to be known, I believe, mirrors God’s desire to be known. Yet, our fear of shame, rejection, and weakness often leads us to hide behind these masks. Whether it’s the people-pleaser mask, the tough-and-in-control mask, or the one that blends in the crowd, these masks shield us from our own hurt and insecurity.
Instead of masking our insecurities, we are called to “put on Christ.” As written in Ephesians 4:22-24, we are taught to lay aside our old selves and put on a new self, created in God’s image. Galatians 3:27 further emphasizes this, stating that by being baptized into Christ, we have put on Christ.
By choosing to put on Christ, we become part of a community that heals through love. The church provides a safe space where we can reveal our truth without fear of shame. As James 5:16 suggests, confessing our faults to one another leads to healing.
Sharing our wounds and vulnerabilities with others is not a sign of weakness, but rather an embodiment of God’s grace and love. When we show our scars, we allow others to see God’s power and His healing work within us. As 2 Corinthians 12:9 states, “My grace is enough for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
Living a life of unmasked worship allows us to experience true freedom. In His presence, our shame and pride are stripped away, revealing our true selves. The facade we once wore is replaced with a face shining with hope.
Putting on Christ doesn’t mean feigning happiness. Instead, it provides us a hope for eternity that radiates even through the toughest times. As Romans 15:13 says, “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe in him.”
As we unmask, we invite others to do the same. Let’s show the world who we are in Christ and inspire them to do the same. Let us remove our masks, embrace Christ, and live in the freedom of His love and grace.
The Victorious Life – Part 3
Other Messages
The biblical narrative of the “Jericho March” provides potent spiritual lessons and practical guidance for today’s believers seeking liberation from personal “Jericho” – seemingly insurmountable challenges standing between them and God’s promises.
Analogous to Joshua’s life journey – from Egypt’s enslavement, through wilderness experiences, to the Promised Land – the believer’s path includes initial enslavement by sin, acceptance of Jesus Christ, leaving behind sinful ways, baptism, learning, worshiping, and experiencing God’s power. These steps lead us towards our “Promised Land” – God’s purpose for us. Yet, like Jericho for Joshua, many believers face daunting obstacles.
Jericho, in our lives, may represent various hurdles like overcoming debt, breaking an addiction, achieving a degree, starting a business, defeating a disease, or reconciling a relationship. These challenges often appear walled off, causing fear, and doubt, seeming too vast to overcome. Yet, they stand as spiritual strongholds impeding our divine destiny.
Crucially, every “Jericho” in our life is conquerable with faith and God’s Word. Joshua’s victory came not by human strength but through the power of God’s presence symbolized by the Ark of the Covenant. Analogously, believers need to march against their Jerichos armed with the Spirit and the Word.
St. Paul’s letter to the Corinthians (2 Corinthians 10:4-5) emphasizes that our weapons for tearing down these strongholds are not human but divine. It’s not about our abilities, but God’s. It’s about dismantling the voices of fear, doubt, depression, victimhood, and shame with God’s truth.
Our spiritual journey requires active participation, not passive expectation. God’s promises involve a role for us and a role only He can fulfill. As in Isaiah 30:21, we hear God’s voice directing our paths, but we must be moving to follow His lead.
Our lives might seem to be in a loop, continually circling our Jerichos, yet God counts our steps. The story of the Jericho March assures us that with faith, perseverance, and God’s power, our walls will fall, paving the way to our divine destiny. Let’s march, trusting in His promises.