Listen to this devotional: |
Listen while you read: "Crown Him With Many Crowns"1 (Lyrics) |
Many of us are wearing masks these days, and there are a lot of different styles and patterns to choose from — ranging from disposable ones to designer looks. Sometimes, it's hard to recognize people when they're wearing their masks. Just the other day, while in the grocery store, I almost walked right past a good friend from church.
It's hard to tell whether people are happy or sad, smiling or frowning behind their masks. We might even like to hide behind our masks. That way, we don't have to be ourselves. We can pretend to be something we're not.
At Hallowe'en, kids love to get dressed up and pretend to be someone else — a fairy princess, a pirate, a superhero, a mermaid. There are so many great costumes these days. It's just fun to pretend for a while.
It's okay to hide behind masks for fun, but from time to time, we put on metaphorical masks instead of being who we really are. We long to be the perfect person, the person that everyone will like, and so we try to hide our imperfections behind a false smile, or we say that we're fine when we really aren't.
God created each of us to be a unique human being, and He has a plan for each of our lives. When we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour, we become a new creation. That is who we really are!
2 Corinthians 5:17 – This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! (NLT)
Don't go through life hiding behind a self-made mask. Are you ready to take off the mask that you have been hiding behind and be the person God created you to be?
Colossians 3:9-10 – Don't lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds. Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him. (NLT)
Hebrews 4:13 – Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account. (NIV)
Prayer: Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your unconditional love for us and for sending Your Son Jesus to die on the cross for our sins. Help us to love ourselves as You love us. Forgive us for wearing self-made masks to cover our fears, our shame, our guilt, our pride, our imperfections, and so much more. Give us the strength today to take off our masks, and trusting in You, to be our true selves and the people You created us to be. Remind us that we are all beautiful in Your eyes, and help us to accept each other and love each other as You have loved us. May we become more and more like Jesus. Keep us from judging others, so that they can remove their masks without fear, and be accepted for who they are. May we all see ourselves as You see us — loved and accepted by Your amazing grace! We pray this in Jesus' name. Amen.
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A good reminder, Dee.
Amen, for sure, Dee. Blessings.
Great reminder for us all Dee, thanks and God bless!
Amen Dee!
Stay well.
Blessings.
Hello Dee,
Nice seeing another of your devotionals today and many thanks for your meaningful and timely words. Yes, the grace and mercy of our Lord is ever available, and we just need seek Him, and He is ready to serve us, guiding us in the right way.
Blessings for writing.
(B.C.)
When somebody asks “How are you?” how many really want to know.