“Let us consider and give attentive, continuous care to watching over one another, studying how we may stir up (stimulate and incite) to love and helpful deeds and noble activities, Not forsaking or neglecting to assemble together [as believers], as is the habit of some people, but admonishing (warning, urging and encouraging) one another, and all the more faithfully as you see the day approaching.” Hebrews 10:24-25, AMP.
Yesterday I saw a posting on Facebook that made me laugh but also made me squirm because it hit a little too close to home. The post had two pictures of the same cat. The first picture was labeled ‘Facebook You’ and was a cute picture of the face of a sweet little cat. The picture beside it was labeled ‘Real You’ with the entire picture of the cat shown – that was one big fat cat!
We have all been guilty of this…choosing to post a picture based on how we wish to be seen. We crop out the least attractive parts of the picture and display our favorite parts. So I pose several questions this morning: Do we crop out certain facets of our lives when displaying our spiritual snapshots of ourselves? What kind of Christian image do we project when living within the frames of our lives? Do we choose mental settings that allow certain people to see certain sides of us while others see different sides?
If we are to be protected against the ever-increasingly worldly temptations, we must live totally transparent lives. We cannot live life with alternating masks in our spiritual life. We must consider giving attention to pure and noble activities in our own lives while we encourage and lovingly guide others in their lives to be transparent. ‘This Scripture is talking about deliberately involving ourselves with one another for the specified purpose of aiding and abetting each other’s victories…those who isolate themselves from the involvement of the body of Christ will be at greater risk for personal disaster.’ When Godly People Do Ungodly Things, p. 96.
It is a full time job cropping the ‘unlovelies’ out of our lives when it is much easier to admit to our weaknesses and flaws. Our willingness to be transparent makes us more approachable and relatable to those who are searching for a more meaningful walk with God.
By displaying our entire picture we are posting the reality of our belief in a Father who loves unconditionally and a Savior who accepts our every flaw. He never wants us to crop out any part of who we are for those are the areas He wishes to display and transform into His image.
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