We have a role to perform in life.
The challenge is not to make it an act. Knowing Jesus as the way, the truth and the life challenged me to discover which part of me was just an act. I had a problem with that for a while. Putting on the act appeared to have got me through some aspects of life. People didn’t want what was real; they were content with what was convenient. People didn’t want to deal with what was real when what was useful was available. People didn’t need the hassle of engaging with the issues of others when they could have their issues served. That worked for me. I put on an act; I endeavour to serve the other; I look to listen to the other and offer whatever help I can.
The challenge that Jesus served was that knowing what was real challenged me to be real, even if that real was me being weak and inadequate, even if that real called for vulnerability and transparency to others. The truth that set me free set me up to deal with the truth that I can be all that God calls me to be as long as I don’t look to hide behind an act. That remains a challenge every day. Every single day, it’s a challenge to take Jesus at His word, depend on Him and allow His life to enable me not to live by what is real as He defines it.
The role we have to perform in life is to make clear the truth of God. It’s easy to get into the act because the thing about shame, guilt, fear, and pride is that they promote hiding behind masks. Masks of being sufficient or victimhood; masks of being the alpha or a sucker. So many masks are available to help avoid the reality of the situation. The reality is that we are sinners in need of saving to serve others in the light of reality.
For His Name's Sake
C. L. J. Dryden
Shalom
