The word 'authentic' refers to the truthfulness of origins, attributions, commitments, sincerity, devotion, and intentions (see Wikipedia). It is also one of our core values here at The Community Fellowship. One of the things that I am so grateful for is that people can join us and just be themselves. Nothing more and nothing less is asked. People find they are accepted at The Community and that God accepts them.
Yet one of the things that our culture and humanity seems to put on us is this thought that we need to "look right or make others think that all is fine" all the time. Nothing could be further from the truth. We all have our good and bad days.
It is when people know we are real that we can best connect with them. How often do you get real with anyone? To be authentic essentially means to simply get real about who you are, where you are and what's going on in your life.
Jesus was authentic:
John 12:50 (NASB)
"I know that His commandment is eternal life; therefore the things I speak, I speak just as the Father has told Me."
"I know that His commandment is eternal life; therefore the things I speak, I speak just as the Father has told Me."
Hebrews 1:3 (NASB)
And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
We must be authentic:
Proverbs 28:13 (NLT)
People who conceal their sins will not prosper, but if they confess and turn from them, they will receive mercy.
People who conceal their sins will not prosper, but if they confess and turn from them, they will receive mercy.
Romans 12:3 (NLT)
Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don't think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us.
Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don't think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us.
If we are honest and authentic, here are some things that will happen in and around us:
1. When I am authentic, healing in my life begins.
2. When I am authentic, others are encouraged and often conversation begins.
3. When I am authentic, God will be able to work in my life even more.
It is time to take off our mask and be authentic. I am not saying let all the world know everything about you. Yet each of us have people in our lives who we can trust that we need to be sharing with often (find those people, cherish those people and help each other).
I love what I do. But somedays it is tough. I love God and seek Him. But I battle depression sometimes. I've made some good decisions. But I have also made a ton of bad ones. Fact is, I am not perfect. As I have said before, I have holes in me that only God can fill up.
Being honest about ourselves and our situation will make a difference in our lives and in the lives of other people we are authentic with.
Hebrews 10:33 (NLT)
Sometimes you were exposed to public ridicule and were beaten, and sometimes you helped others who were suffering the same things.
Sometimes you were exposed to public ridicule and were beaten, and sometimes you helped others who were suffering the same things.
I may not have been beaten or even cussed at, but those tough things I have been through and dumb things I have done God will work through and use to help others come to know him. Be authentic! Be who God made you to be.
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