Raw and Godly Authenticity...

Happy Wednesday, Everyone! 

Susie Larson here...

And to those visiting, I say welcome! I post every Wednesday and my sole purpose is to nourish your soul along the way.

Each month I give away a $10.00 Starbucks gift card to someone who posts on my blog.  So leave a post, share an insight or story, bless lots of people, and just maybe you'll win a jolt of java for you and friend! 

It's time to announce January's winner...and the winner is...Kathy Baker! Congratulations! Email me your mailing address at: susie@faithradionet.com and we'll get your gift card in the mail! 

One more thing...

We've had a couple days of powerful shows on Live the Promise. On Monday we talked about BIG FAITH behind our prayers and on Tuesday we talked about ASKING for BIG things when we pray (totally biblical, totally God's will). Listen if you get the chance! You'll be encouraged and inspired. Here are the links to those shows:

Monday's Live the Promise with Jennifer Kennedy Dean

Tuesday's Live the Promise with Will Davis, Jr.

Excellent shows, both of them!  

Now on to my topic...

I love the story of when King David brought the ark of the God back to the City of David. He led the throng of people with excitement and jubilation. He danced before the Lord, not as a king but as a humble servant. King David removed his royal garb and wore only his linen ephod, which in those days was like the simple tunic slaves wore. His wife watched him from the window and was so appalled by this display of worship that she criticized him when he returned home. Let's read their exchange:

When David returned home to bless his family, Michal came out to meet him and said in disgust, "How glorious the king of Israel looked today! He exposed himself to the servant girls like any indecent person might do!" David retorted to Michal, "I was dancing before the LORD, who chose me above your father and his family! He appointed me as the leader of Israel, the people of the LORD. So I am willing to act like a fool in order to show my joy in the LORD. Yes, and I am willing to look even more foolish than this, but I will be held in honor by the girls of whom you have spoken!"  So Michal, the daughter of Saul, remained childless throughout her life. (2 Samuel 6:20-23 NLT).

Michal paid a price for her self-preserving attitude.

David, on the other hand, didn't rest on his laurels or feel the need to appear dignified at all times. Underneath it all, he knew who he was: a servant of the Most High God. 

Do you notice how mightily God uses those who are willing to humble themselves before Him? Why then, do we work so hard to appear more put together than we are? Pure and simply, we need Jesus! Every day! Every hour! 

Not one of us has arrived and we won't until we cross the finish line and hear our Father say, "Well done, good and faithful servant." There's that word again.

Read this compelling excerpt from John Fischer's book, "12 Steps for the Recovering Pharisee."

"I often wonder how a gospel based solely on the merits of the one who has died to forgive sin could be perpetuated on the merits of those who don't seem to need it. If the whole point of the gospel is forgiveness of sin, then why do we insist on continually parading these 'almost perfect' lives in front of each other? How has it happened that the people who proclaim forgiveness of sin don't seem to have any sins to be forgiven of themselves? How has a church that once was the happy possession of common fishermen and prostitutes and tax collectors become the home of the spiritually elite? There are, undoubtedly, numerous and complicated answers to this question, but I believe at the root of them all is lurking the issue of the Pharisee." (p.95). 

Now, of course, if we are serious about our walk of faith, we will grow into the likeness of Christ. Hopefully we are more loving now than we were last month; and more forgiving now than we were last year. But I believe that we are never more intimately linked in fellowship with God than when we are raw and honest before Him about our sin and about our daily desperate need for Him. Not because He doesn't know our sad state, but so that we can be lifted from it. 

And I believe that we are never more blessed in community and more one with each other than when we are raw and honest with a handful of safe, godly friends. We need each other on this journey and we are better together. 

May we, like David, shed all of our frivolous garb and celebrate God with reckless abandon! May we always remember that we are servants of the Most High God. And may we be humble enough to be real and honest about our need for Him.

Have a blessed week!

Comments

[Neil]

I once heard somebody say, "status is buying things you don't need, can't afford, and don't really want to impress people you don't even like.Authenticity is a tough thing to master. We have such a strong desire, like Michal, to look good in front of others and to not upset the apple cart, when we should be concernedwith an audience on one.

[Pinkpinksopink@yahoo.com]

LiKE:)Exactly what I was praying about yesterday... To have a humble heart, to serve Him with out propriety....Sometimes my motivation for seeking a humble heart is simply and honestly self preservation- because when Im full of my own goodness and ask God to teach me humility, well, that's just what He can be counted on to do! OUCH!

[Christine Smith]

Thank you for this post. There is much truth here to digest. Blessings on your week.

[Rachel Beran]

Oh, how desperately I need Him! This thought has been strongly on my heart and mind the past few days. It's not my ability or goodness that's going to achieve God's plans. It's God working through me, strengthening me. I want so much to be a truly humble servant, not just "keeping up with appearances."

Anyway, thanks for this, Susie. I'm going to keep it in my favorites...and come back to it for future reminders and encouragement.

And, yes, great shows on Monday and Tuesday. :)

[Jami]

Amen amen amen!! And can I say one more time Amen! Love you Susie!

[Susie Larson]

Neil,

So true! WE definitely lose our way when our affections and attention goes from right to left. When our eyes are fixed on Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith, we are set to True North - and our choices will reflect our core conviction.

Bless you!

[Susie Larson]

Dear 'Pink',

Thanks for your post! I appreciate your honesty! Isn't it great that God is so gracious to us in our redemptive process? He makes provision for our weakness, is patient with our fears, and so lovingly corrects us. Oh, how I love Him!

Bless you~

[Susie Larson]

Dear Christine,

Thanks for stopping by! May His truth continue to come alive to you!

Blessings in Christ~

[Susie Larson]

Hi Rachel,

God WILL give you the desires of your heart (because your heart is so obviously in sync with HIS heart)!

May He continue to work in and through you, to strengthen you for His purposes, and may He surprise you with His great plan for you!

Blessings in Christ~

[Susie Larson]

Dear Jami,

Love you TOO!

I'm working today on catching up on all of my email correspondence. I'll be emailing you soon!

:)