30 Oct, 2010

Face it....

 Halloween Mask (Face it...)

Face it….with Halloween fast approaching, you may be trying to figure out what costume to wear on Sunday.  Perhaps you’ll be attending a party or maybe you’re still into going door to door and yelling “Trick or Treat!”  Some people even love to dress up while giving out goodies to the little princesses and super heroes that ring their door bell after dark.

 

You probably have favorite costumes from your childhood.  Did you ever go out on Halloween and FORGET what you were?  Face it…..it’s kind of hard to do that when you’re dressed head to toe as something else.

 
James 1:19-25 (NIV)       My dear brothers, take note of this: everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man’s anger does not bring the righteous life that God desires.  Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.      Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves.  Do what it says.  Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.  But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it – he will be blessed in what he does.

What does today’s Scripture Story teach us about facing ourselves in the mirror?

 

Are we being real Christians (Christ followers)?  Do our lives measure up to the notes that bring the righteous life that God desires?

 

What filth and evil do you, and me, need to rid ourselves of?

 

When you look in the mirror, do see a child of God? Has the image become cloudy and unrecognizable as God’s chosen?  Are you hearing AND doing?

 

Face it….then let the Holy Spirit examine your heart.

How can we connect today’s God’s Story scripture to our lives?

 

I have found as I go through life that it’s important to be transparent.  It doesn’t mean we have to share every thought that comes into our mind or spill our guts to every person we meet.  But we don’t have to be afraid to be who we are.  There’s no need to wear a mask or pretend to be something that we’re not.  And we definitely don’t want our friends to think we’re more spiritually grounded than we are or that we don’t struggle in areas.

 

As a follower of Christ, we are to be dressed in the full amour of God (Ephesians 6:10-20) each and every day.  Begin to be more open and real with your friends.  Share with them how the Son of God, Jesus Christ, is helping in the areas in which you need special attention.  Face it…..we need Him just as much today as we did the day we surrendered our life to Him.

How can we connect today’s story, God’s Story scripture, and our story to others? 

True friends challenge each other to grow and mature, socially and spiritually.  When you’re honest and open up to them, they’ll be more willing to do the same. 

 

What have you been masking or keeping secret?  Have you been afraid that if your friends knew the ‘real’ you, they would not like you?  Pray and ask God for wisdom on what and when to share.  Your friends should know that you rely on Christ by the way that you talk, act, and live.

 

What friend will be your accountability partner?  Ask them to hold you accountable and to check your status weekly, or daily if you feel you need that.  Allow the Holy Spirit to point out areas in your life that you need to work on in order to continue growing in the Lord.  Let’s face it….Halloween is just one day a year.  And the only time we should be wearing masks.

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The Daily Bide is brought to you by a team of writers from Youth for Christ/USA. The writers all have various years of experience in youth ministry but share a common bond in serving Jesus and discovering what it means to abide deeply everyday and to connect God's Story with those around them. A number of the Daily Bide writers have also written portions of our 3Story® resources. You can check out our resources at the 3Story.org website or connect with our writers at 3story@yfc.net. If you have a question or a story you would like to share, please reference the Daily Bide date in your email.

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