Our faith walk is not about “superficial glory.” It’s about “transparent authenticity.” And Paul drives this home while preaching for us in Thessalonica.
“…We always speak as God wants us to, because he has judged us worthy to be entrusted with the Good News. We do not try to please people, but to please God, who tests our motives.” 1 Thessalonians 2:4 GNT
Pleasing men and pleasing God are in direct opposition to each other.
Paul’s deep sense of responsibility to preach the Gospel kept him away from seeking glory. Instead, he set out to declare the truth for God’s approval, no matter what others thought.
Paul’s critics did not contradict his doctrine in their effort to derail him; they attacked what they saw as his glory-seeking motives. But Paul was not basking in having been approved by God as a faithful and approved servant. He simply went to work preaching the unvarnished Gospel with authenticity that had been electrified by his heart.
Relying completely on our mind and reasoning bypasses the heart and leaves an emotionless and inauthentic foundation. We cannot leave out the heart! That is where authenticity lives.
God wants us to be authentic without posing or posturing for glory and praise. It is unacceptable in his eyes for us to live an isolated, unaccountable, and unknown life. We are to share the Gospel, of course, but also our authentic and unmasked soul.
“The Lord said to him, “Go, because I have chosen him to serve me, to make my name known to Gentiles and kings and to the people of Israel.” Acts 9:15 GNT
I ask God to help me set aside my own reasoning and open up my heart to express an authentic view of what he has done in my transformed life.
HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you living an authentic and transparent faith?
