Are You AUTHENTIC?

Did you know that today, April 30, is National Honesty Day in the United States? According to ‘Our Daily Bread’- author M. Hirsh Goldberg established this day in the early 1990’s as a way to honor the honorable and encourage honesty. This day was selected because “April begins with a day dedicated to lying [April Fool’s Day] and should end on a higher moral note” (M. Hirsh Goldberg).

As I think about what it means to be honest, my thoughts land on the reality that honesty is more than just about what we say. Honesty has so much to do with how we live our lives on a day-to-day basis. It is about living lives of integrity and being authentic.

Looking at the words of Jesus Christ, one word that jumps out at me that He used several times is the word: “hypocrite.” The word was spoken to different groups of people but the point was the same – Jesus wants us to be authentic. He wants us to be real. He wants us to be honest!

On several occasions, Jesus called the Pharisees and scribes “hypocrites.” Why? Because they were so focused on “looking” religious on the outside that the inside was tragically filthy. Listen to how Jesus put it: “Now you Pharisees make the outside of the cup and dish clean, but your inward part is full of greed and wickedness” (Luke 11:39).

Wow! But we are not Pharisees or scribes! No, we are not. However, as Jesus a few verses later: “. . . there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, nor hidden that will not be known” (Luke 12:2).

It is so important that we be authentic. We live in a world where the masks people wear are numerous. All of us, at times, put on a false façade. We have been commanded to “be ready to give a defense (apologia – apologetics – an answer) to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you . . .” (1 Peter 3:15).

Friend, we will NEVER be asked if we are not being authentic! There is enough “acting” in the world today. It is time that we be real, authentic, honest.

Let me challenge you with some commands taken directly from the Word of God and let these be what you strive after in order to be authentic! Please take time to read this passage slowly, meditate, and ask the Lord to reveal to you which one’s you need to work on.

READ: Ephesians 4:17-32
Now, go and be AUTHENTIC!!