My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.
James 1: 2-3
Scripture: Romans 8: 31-39
Sometimes, we get asked tough questions. We may not always want to answer those tough questions. This devotion looks at the need for Christians be authentic, honest, and transparent when God’s plan for us takes us somewhere that is difficult for us.
We got the rest of the big stuffed moved to the new place today. We got Adam’s desk from the apartment. We got the shelving units and Dad’s cabinet from the storage unit.
A guy from church brought his trailer and another person so we could do this. He is taking my old washer and dryer pair for his daughter.
So, Adam and I can get the rest (by Friday. I am writing this on Tuesday — we’ve got this!).
Screech and Trouble
My friend and I have a long history. He calls me Screech, and I call him Trouble. At least, I think he still does. He got a little self conscious a while back about calling me something I generally do not do. But I told him I am fine with it.
We used to sit beside each other in choir. I was in the first soprano section, and he was in the tenor section. We had an agreement. I would let him sing my melody part, if he let me sing his tenor part.
It worked out for the most part (yep, I didn’t always have the melody). He was going to sing melody: agreement or not; soprano or not.
I could usually sing his notes until they slid down closer to the bass line. It was a good stretch for me (stretch, not screech).
The director would shake his head at us. But as Adam and I always say, you have to consider the sources, shake your head, and go on.
That didn’t last long, because I took over directing the choir. He was on his own, but the bond had been formed.
Private Questions
Today, Trouble asked me a question. He prefaced it by saying it was a personal question. It was about my car and why I had bought it from the dealership that I had bought cars at for like 20 years. Trouble’s question was why did I continue with something from my past life.
I answered the question truthfully. The owner has always taken care of me — whether it was a sale, standard maintenance, or a pop-up problem. He is honest about what my vehicle needs. He doesn’t try to sell me something I don’t need. He works with me when issues show up all of the sudden.
The owner takes care of me because of the business relationship we have built up over the years. He takes care of me individually, not as part of a former unit.
How Am I Doing with Privacy in Today’s World?
I generally will answer whatever question is asked of me. I do this because I believe one of the quotes I have on the About Me page. It talks about being authentic and honest. I have to be authentic and honest with you, or you will start questioning why you should read what I write.
The buzz words these days aren’t authenticity and honesty — it is transparency. People want to see exactly everything about you — usually, while covering up their mistakes and judgmental tendencies.
But don’t we all have those sins that we would rather stay between God and me/you? No one needs to know about the time I really messed this up. Or people would really judge me if they knew [insert your answer here].
We do this because we want to protect ourselves. We don’t want the embarrassment, hurt, and uproar being found out would cause.
What we think will happen is, if people know everything about us, our witness will be wrecked. That is a realistic concern.
Also, in today’s world, it feels like followers of Christ are expected to be perfect. We have to treat everyone with the world’s definition of perfect (even if it contradicts God’s guidelines). We have to do be perfect in doing all the do’s and not doing any of the don’ts.
That isn’t going to happen. But at times, it seems we are the only ones to realize that.
That is why we would just rather keep our sins private. Don’t ask any private questions so we have to tell you that we aren’t answering that.
Be Defined By Goodness, Not Anger
In the sermon Sunday, Pastor said something that actually started me thinking about this then. What I wrote down was, “We must be defined by good because it reveals the goodness of God. When we define God by anger, God is defined as angry.”
Pastor was talking about what kind of witness we give when we judge other church members. He point here was, we shouldn’t judge other members — we should love them, as God does. That may include a bit of counseling, but it has to be done in love, not anger or judgment.
This should also be extended to those outside the church walls. People need to see followers of Christ as loving, not judgmental.
What Does This Mean for Me?
But that doesn’t mean that same … respect …. consideration …. will automatically be extended to us. How do we let that affect what God has called us to do?
This really hit me Sunday. I have to be authentic and honest. I have to be transparent. I have to use the experiences God put me through — when I did everything right and when I messed up — to encourage others on their journey.
That means answering the not-so-hard question Trouble asked me and the hard questions that may rise in the future. This may be in front of a bunch of people, or it may be talking with someone individually.
But I still have to take this journey. I have to perform what God has told me to perform — regardless of the outcome.
Remember, a while back, the devotion talked about all things work together for good (Rom. 8: 28)? God’s good — not specifically ours. Furthering His kingdom — not keeping us in our comfort zone.
Whatever is in store for down the road is a part of our plans. Our plans our for His good and our good. God will never leave us alone during whatever we go through.
Father. You don’t need us to be part of Your plans. You want us to be. You love us and use all of our experiences to grow us into the people You want us to be. Sometimes, we would rather You not use some of our experiences. Help us to d everything You ask of us. Amen.
What do you think? Leave me a comment below (about this or anything else) or head over to my Facebook group for some interactive discussion.
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