Authenticity is a big deal to Jesus. Learn to follow His lead and live an authentic life.
In the book of Luke, Jesus said, “You can’t keep your true self hidden forever; before long you’ll be exposed. You can’t hide behind a religious mask forever; sooner or later the mask will slip and your true face will be known” (MSG).
This Scripture tells us that we need to ask ourselves if are we authentically living and following Jesus. “The Gospel” is a term we use a lot as believers. But let’s dig deeper… The Gospel is the good news of the loving, redemptive work that Christ has done and freely offers to all people, to save them from sin and ultimately total separation from God the Father. In its broadest sense, with the good news of salvation remaining at the core, the Gospel is a full embodiment of the person and work of Christ in His church, and the full revelation of God’s Word.
How we apply this to our lives means that we are to be the salt and light of the earth, affirming full Biblical truth, and teaching a Christian worldview that deals with morality and being accountable to God for our choices.
It also means helping those who have been neglected when no one else would help (Luke 10), feeding the poor and needy in the name of Jesus, and speaking up for those who can’t speak up for themselves. Ultimately, it means loving God and our neighbours.
Honest engagement to be more like Jesus
God assures us that Christianity is not about perfection. Rather, it is about engaging in an honest process of clinging to and becoming more like Jesus Christ. This happens every single day. If you feel challenged as you read this, it’s probably a sign that you need to embrace authenticity more. Authentic Christians don’t pretend they are perfect people. As Christians, we mess up. However, when we do, we come before God with repentant hearts and we hold onto the grace of God. This allows us to extend His grace to others.
I believe we need to keep the Psalmist’s prayer in our hearts.
It reads: “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life”.
Psalm 139: 23-24
Our children and those that surround us are longing for a personification of what it means to be an authentic follower of Jesus – someone who can say, “Keep in step with me as I strive to keep in step with Jesus.”
What we really need is Christians who, like Jesus, are filled with grace and truth. People with both sound doctrine and warm hearts, reaching out to the broken-hearted and the needy in the name of Christ, no matter the cost.
If you are not part of the CBN mission but would like to partner with us in getting His truth, practical compassion, and generosity out to the beautiful nations of Southern Africa, we would love to chat with you. Please email us at info@cbnsa.org or call us on 021 701 1776.
