Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Being Authentic

As my senior year nears completion, the reality that true, adult-life lies just around the corner can be slightly unnerving.  However, God has really placed on my heart the importance of living an authentic Christian life when making these future life decisions.  Though the times can be stressful, I can find comfort and rest knowing that God has perfect plans for my life.  This does not mean I will simply wait back and hope life "happens" the way God intends it, but I whole-heartedly believe that He calls us to live a life true to His word, fully depending on Him, but also acting on the wisdom He has provided, and taking risks that that will honor His name. 


That is what living an authentic Christian life looks like.  We are not called to a life of perfection, nor do we need to "fake it 'til we make it" as society often pressures us to believe.  As a follower of Christ, I recognize that I am not perfect, nor will I ever be, but I do strive to live a life that exudes authenticity.  If and when I make mistakes, I yearn to fix and learn from them.  I love Jesus Christ with all my heart, and nothing hurts more than when I take an outside look at my life and notice discrepancies that I am not proud of.  However, Christ forgives, and it is essential to recognize and believe that.  


Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight
~Proverbs 3:5-6


An authentic life is not a perfect life, but it is one that looks the same to the outside world as it does behind closed doors.  It is a life that takes chances based on wisdom and the will of God.  It is the life of a person who loves God enough to accept the amazing gifts He has freely presented before us, and strives to never take them for granted.  It is a life that yearns to be free of judgement for the only perfect being was Christ Himself.  It is when the flesh and judgement take over that the authentic Christian life begins to look a lot more like hypocrisy to the outside world. 


As a Christian I still struggle, I stumble, I fall, and I downright fail, but I continue to accept the redemptive love of Christ.  I strive to learn, to forgive, to share, and to love as Christ did.  I remind myself that a life worthy of the love of Christ is not a life held to a standard of perfection, but rather a life held to His standard of grace.  He longs for us to lead authentic lives that lead others straight to Him.  


Tonight my prayer is not that you become perfect people, but rather authentic Christians.  I pray that you examine your lives and weed out the areas that may not fit under this description.  It is time that we quit hiding behind these masks of perfection and judgement, and time we become the authentic humans that Christ died for on the Cross of Calvary.  

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