“REAL?”

Me-Maw Thoughts

Number 537

July 27, 2021///

As I write this morning, I am thinking about how we see each other.

I know some of you have heard this but being raised in a pastor’s home I had seen my dad baptize people.  So as a little girl I baptized my paper dolls in a pan of water.  However, to my distress they fell apart!

Why? Because they were not real.  They were paper people.  Fake people!

What do people see when they look at you?  Do you act and perform they way you think will impress those around you or are you just completely you in every situation!

Of course, we are encouraged in the bible to do all things in Kindness and Love and that is true in all situations.  It is never right to be rude or ugly even to those who strongly come against us.  Our walk should always be one of Love and Forgiveness!

I am addressing what some would call, “putting on airs”, “being puffed up regarding yourself”, “pretending to be something you are not”, treating people different depending on their status in life or thinking more highly of yourself than you should.

Romans 12:3 (KJV)
For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

We are all created in the image of the creator God and should walk in the confidence of who He made us to be.  But it is our faith in Jesus Christ that allows us to be all that we need to be in this life, not our own goodness or achievements.

How many of you have ever heard the expression: “They think they are all that and a bag of chips!”. Of course, the person someone would refer to in that situation is thinking of themselves more highly than they should.

When Jesus walked here on earth in human flesh, it was the puffed-up religious leaders He had a problem with.   Look at what Jesus says to them!  

Luke 20:46 (KJV)
Beware of the scribes, which desire to walk in long robes, and love greetings in the markets, and the highest seats in the synagogues, and the chief rooms at feasts;

Matthew 23:27 (KJV)
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness.

Why do we do what we do?  Is it to impress people or to show Jesus to them, Jesus who gives us a better way to live?  Are we living a life of love and caring or of self-promotion and exhalation?

Going back to the paper dolls I baptized.  They fell apart because they were not real!  If our walk with Jesus is not founded on a true change inside, we will fall apart when the storms of life come.  When the dreaded phone call comes, or the doctors report is bad, or we lose someone we love, to death!

When the hard things in life that we all face come our way, if we are not real in our trust in the God who made us and Loves us and is there with us, we will come apart!

If we are but a show to others on the outside of having a trust in God’s nature and Love, we will not stand strong in the midst of the storms of life.

The world we live in is more chaotic and different than we have ever faced, and we need to be founded upon the solid rock of trusting Jesus to be our savior by believing in His, death, burial, and resurrection, and asking Him to guide our lives and live through us!

His presence gives peace in turmoil and calmness in chaos. Our foundations must be sure! About our foundation, Jesus said the following:

Matthew 7:25 and 27 (KJV)
²⁵ And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
²⁷ And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

We must be strong in our Faith and real in our actions to stand strong in the face of the realities of life.

Be encouraged to take a look at what people see and of the trust you have in God who made you and Loves you! Be real, be who He created you to be!

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Father, thank you for all who read this and show them how to be true to who you are and who you created them to be.  Touch each of us with the strength of the truth of your words and the power of walking in truth. Let each of us feel the real you as you fill us with Peace and Strength!  In Jesus name I pray!  Amen!

Love, MeMaw