John 2:23-25
During the time he was in Jerusalem, those days of the Passover Feast, many people noticed the signs he was displaying and, seeing they pointed straight to God, entrusted their lives to him. But Jesus didn't entrust his life to them. He knew them inside and out, knew how untrustworthy they were. He didn't need any help in seeing right through them.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
A friend of ours is a great story teller. He can entertain us for a long time with tales from his past… and all who know and love him know that he has a penchant for weaving embellishments into his facts. So when my husband asked him recently how he was doing after gallbladder surgery, he replied that was feeling great, and “… they removed 42 pounds of gallstones.” Now, my husband knew that this was an astonishing number, but the man told it with fairly convincing sincerity. However, a mutual friend who was listening said, “That amount has increased every time you tell the story.” In truth, the gallstones weighed about 2 ounces! Everyone laughed, and it was all in good fun.
But so much of what we are told… and what we believe… contains lies and insincerity sold to us as the truth and genuine sentiment. I’m reminded of the phrase said of some… “If his lips are moving, he’s lying.” Lots of people talk a good talk, but there is nothing sincere to back up their outward speech and appearance. And unless we are continually awake and alert – we are frequently duped.
Don’t let it be said of you that your “talk” about your faith and service to Jesus doesn’t match your “walk.” Don’t do things in Jesus’ name just to look important… don’t say things you don’t mean. Others may be fooled, but I assure you… Jesus is not! At the end of the day… sincere, genuine faith and service are what matter to God… and ultimately to others, too.
It is better to do the very least God asks of you… and do it with a pure heart and genuine motives of pleasing Him… than to try to “tackle the world” in name only – or simply to make yourself look better and more important. Jesus wants us to be “the real deal” for Him. He wants us to love Him out of a deep desire for relationship with Him… to serve Him out of our longing to please Him and further His kingdom.
When Jesus looks at you, does He see someone He can trust? Are you the “real deal” for Jesus? Isn’t it time you were?
©2011 Debbie Robus
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