Isn't fun to watch kids dress up in costumes for Halloween? They are so excited to pick out their costumes and pretend to be someone else. Some of you teenage girls are still that way!!! But have you ever thought why costumes come with a mask? They hide who they really are.
It's not just on Halloween that people wear masks. If we are honest with ourselves, most of us put on masks from time to time. We put on masks any time we are not honest with God. Anytime we try to make ourselves come across as something we are not, we are putting on a mask.
Most of us wear masks at some time or other. We wear one mask when we go to school, but it comes off when we get home. We put on another mask when friends come over, but as soon as they leave, the mask comes off. We have another mask for going to church, but when we get in the car, it comes off until the next service.
We wear these masks so that people cannot tell who we really are. We don't want others to see the REAL us. And often we fool our friends, church members, even our families, but we never fool God. He sees through our masks we wear.
What are some of the masks you wear? Have you ever pretended to hide your true feelings? Have you ever pretended to be something that you are not? To go along with the crowd? To gain acceptance from your friends? Because you were afraid someone might not like the real you? Because you feared rejection if they saw the real you?
2 Corinthians 3:18 says, "And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit."
The truth is, when we take off the masks and are honest with ourselves and God, He takes our fears, weaknesses, our sinful ugliness and transforms us to look like Him. When we wear our masks, we no longer reflect the love, grace and joy of Christ. Too often we claim His name without representing His heart by wearing different masks. Very few people will believe our message if they don't see it lived out daily in our lives. We are to make Jesus visible to the world. When we remove our masks, His life shines through ours.
Dont' be trapped behind a mask, acting out a life you don't really want. Be honest with God and let Him remove your mask and replace it with a new you that doesn't need to hide from the world!
Loving Jesus together,
Morgan
