One of my friends worked at a popular clothing store as a mall branch manager. She said that the most difficult challenge of her job is attaining her sales quota. To help her achieve daily goals, she says she changes their window display several times a day so that they could attract foot traffic and potential sales.
As human beings we also have our own windows to dress. We curate messages about our lives to others by our actions, and what we let others know about us. A person’s social media feed for instance, usually shows the person’s best version of himself. So is our real life persona to people we aim to please — we put our best foot forward. And while there is nothing wrong about trying to have a good image, we have to realize that as followers of Jesus, there should not be a gap between our real self and that which we project to others.
“The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity.” Proverbs 11:3
The call to be as authentic as possible will not always be easy. After all, most of us have been at one point subject to gossiping, and may have been judged for who we are. But as followers of Jesus, we are being called to live authentic lives — far from the hypocrisy of not living the faith we profess, or portraying a lifestyle we do not really have or cannot afford.
“Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.” Psalm 32:2
When we live lives rooted in God’s word and worship, we will know what truly matters. We will no longer be enslaved to money and ambition, that we abuse our bodies and neglect our loved ones just to finance the “dream” lifestyle we live. We will no longer spread ourselves too thin just to please everyone, and feel that we are part of the “it” crowd. We can truly enjoy vacations and meals, because we are no longer pressured to doll up, make everything look perfect, and spend X number of minutes just to get the perfect instagrammable shot.
As a person genuinely cultivating a tight relationship with our Savior, our concerns will instead be living and growing our faith and helping others experience God’s presence in their lives. Yes, we will still care about our needs, but we will certainly know what matters most in life — which is to seek God and help others see Him too.
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:19-21
When we put God first and live the authentic life that He calls us into, we will be able to live the abundant life Jesus offers. Our worth will no longer lay on the persona we portray, but rather, we will be secure in our worth in God’s eyes.
We will have God’s peace, we will be confident to seek His guidance about everything, and we could endure inevitable trials because we have hope in His promises. Likewise, God will bless us with meaningful moments spent with loved ones and genuine joy in serving others. No more window dressing required.
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13
Thank you for reading through our devotional today. I invite you to ponder on Romans 15:5-8 to dig deeper on today’s topic.
Reflection Question: Do you show your authentic self to others?
Conversation with the Lord: Heavenly Father, thank you for assuring us that we are your children, and that we no longer have to put on a show just to gain acceptance. Thank you for showing us what is essential and what we have to train our eyes on — an eternity with you. Amen.
