Early for my lunch appointment, I was enjoying the quietness of my commute despite the bumper-to-bumper traffic. Suddenly, the ringing of my cell phone broke the silence. I answered it and heard my sister’s cheerful voice say, “I’ve been waving to you for the past 5 minutes! You must be lost in thought!” “Where are you?” I asked. “In the car in front of you,” was her incredulous response. I hadn’t seen her waving because her rear window is darkly tinted.
As the body of Christ, we’re called to live in community with one another. The idea of people watching us or knowing about the junk in our lives can make us uncomfortable. But being known by others is necessary, not only to meet our basic relationship needs, it also affords us a measure of safety from the enemy’s devices.
Ananias and Sapphira had a well-known problem. They lied about giving all the proceeds from the sale
of their property to the church. Judgment came because they pretended to be something they weren’t. Playing a role to imitate the sincerity of those around them (Acts 4:34-37), they forgot that God knows the true condition of our hearts (Proverbs 24:12).
Believers who take seriously the presence of the Holy Spirit living in them recognize the following:
Transparency means . . .
• pursuing “holiness and sincerity in all our dealings” (2 Corinthians 1:12).
• being honest with others about where we are spiritually (Ephesians 4:25).
• being willing to be admonished by those who love us (Proverbs 27:6).
Tinted windows may keep our cars cooler by allaying the sweltering summer heat, but tinted lives leave us open to the enemy. —Regina Franklin
More:
Everything that is hidden will eventually be brought into the open, and every secret will be brought to light (Mark 4:22).
Next:
What have you tried to hide from those around you? How does fear play a role in keeping us from being transparent with other believers?
skf123 on December 1, 2009 at 1:08 am
Very true and I think our job is to remove the tint in our lives and keep it that way.
Wesley Wyatt on December 1, 2009 at 9:41 am
2 Cor. 1:12 really stands out to me this morning. This is a problem for a lot of believers today, especially in the business arena; “pursuing holiness and sincerity in all our dealings.” I know it’s tough, but the world has to see something in us that distinguishes us from everyone else. Otherwise, they will not want we have.
cmhighley on December 1, 2009 at 9:46 am
If everyone would heed these words the world would be such a better place. Deceitfulness and lies and pretending to be someone you aren’t ruin so many relationships. My motto is if you have nothing to be ashamed of you have nothing to hide. With this statement I realize we all have done things we are not proud of, but I find it is best to own up to your faults and then work on changing them. May God Bless everyone with a Merry Christmas.
Angela on December 2, 2009 at 1:20 am
Yes I agree with what you say, I faced a tempting situation recently and by being transparent found a way of escape…God provided it…
He blesses you if u pursue holiness….
John Tec on December 1, 2009 at 8:08 pm
Sometimes we keep ourselves in the shadows. We hide “little sins” and sometimes pamper it without being aware that we can be devoured by that sin grown into a monster. Let the Lord Jesus clean our hearts, mind, body and soul. Let’s open our hearts to God and set aside all our inhibitions, sins and guilt that we may become dynamic servants of God, unashamed in sharing our faith and living to worship Him everyday! Praise be to God!
Angela on December 2, 2009 at 1:30 am
Amen to that!
Astrid67 on December 2, 2009 at 12:25 pm
John, you are so right. We all need God’s grace and help for our journey. Bless you.