All of us want to be known. But all too often, there's a gap between who we really are and the person we want people to think we are. And when that happens, we lie...pretend...hide. Instead of being real, we practice image management.
And that leads us to today's question, "Who knows who you really are?"
I know the temptation to make excuses. We think, “If people knew who I really was, they wouldn’t like me." Well, I have a news flash for you. A lot of people don’t like you anyway. And those who do, don’t even know you. They know the image, but they haven’t even had the opportunity to like you because you’re so good at hiding the things you don’t want people to know about.
Now, just imagine being part of a community of people who can know everything there is to know about us… that accepts us for who we are… and loves us too much to leave us that way. That's exactly what the Church is supposed to be. Here's some of what the Bible says about that:
- When you sin, don't just tell God, tell somebody who will pray for you (James 5:16).
- Let people know you so well that they know how to help you become who God created you to be (Hebrews 10:24-25).
- When somebody shares their sin with you, be mature enough to restore them gently by carrying their burden for them (Galatians 6:1-3).
- Accept people unconditionally (Romans 14:1, 15:1).
Who do you have in your life that you can do that with? Who really knows you?
You know who you're doing image management with. Who are you doing life with?
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