I am just thinking, why am I so honest sometimes about my failings? Just before I begun leading worship last week, I told the congregation that sometimes we grumble and complain more than we give thanks to God. As I told the congregation to give thanks to God, He pointed out to me my lack of thanksgiving that Sunday morning. I was completely honest about it and held nothing back as I shared with the congregation that I was grumbling about how slowly my husband was driving from home to church. Instead of thanking God for the car (because my brother is away for one month), I grumbled.
Confession is good for the soul because the next time before I grumble, I will remember that I had repented from it and that I should refrain my flesh from doing so. Paul in 2 Cor 11:30 (NLT), "If I must boast, I would rather boast about the things that show how weak I am."He repeats this phrase again in 2 Cor 12:5 "... I am going to boast only about my weaknesses." In context, He had received revelation worthy of boasting but he chose not to do it even though it would be the truth anyway. His main reason is really found in verse 6 - 7, ".... I don't want anyone to hink more highly of me than what they can actually see in my life and my message, even though I have received wonderful revelations from God."
As a person who is often seen in the 'frontline' type of ministry, it's so easy that service becomes the mask of spirituality. Through our service, it is so easy to think that we are spiritually healthy and so be easily deceived by our own spiritual acts. I was reading somewhere this week that we are called to be "human beings' rather than 'human doings'. "To be" takes priority over "to do". I may not have receive ''great revelations'' as compared to Paul but one motto or goal I want to emulate from him is not wanting people to think about me more highly other than what they can see in my life and in my message. The last thing I want is to create a impression that I am what I am not.
I've always believed in being real, genuine, without hypocrisy, honest (still shaving off the abrasive aspect) and sincere. Therefore, I speak my mind even if it means differing in opinions with someone closest to me, I speak my mind even if it risk my own reputation, I speak my mind even if others might have a change of opinion about me. I can't act and I can't pretend - that's me. I am not sure if my confessions about my weaknesses have been to the extend of boasting about my weaknesses but I certainly pray and hope that my life and how I live it will be a message, for His glory.
Confession is good for the soul because the next time before I grumble, I will remember that I had repented from it and that I should refrain my flesh from doing so. Paul in 2 Cor 11:30 (NLT), "If I must boast, I would rather boast about the things that show how weak I am."He repeats this phrase again in 2 Cor 12:5 "... I am going to boast only about my weaknesses." In context, He had received revelation worthy of boasting but he chose not to do it even though it would be the truth anyway. His main reason is really found in verse 6 - 7, ".... I don't want anyone to hink more highly of me than what they can actually see in my life and my message, even though I have received wonderful revelations from God."
As a person who is often seen in the 'frontline' type of ministry, it's so easy that service becomes the mask of spirituality. Through our service, it is so easy to think that we are spiritually healthy and so be easily deceived by our own spiritual acts. I was reading somewhere this week that we are called to be "human beings' rather than 'human doings'. "To be" takes priority over "to do". I may not have receive ''great revelations'' as compared to Paul but one motto or goal I want to emulate from him is not wanting people to think about me more highly other than what they can see in my life and in my message. The last thing I want is to create a impression that I am what I am not.
I've always believed in being real, genuine, without hypocrisy, honest (still shaving off the abrasive aspect) and sincere. Therefore, I speak my mind even if it means differing in opinions with someone closest to me, I speak my mind even if it risk my own reputation, I speak my mind even if others might have a change of opinion about me. I can't act and I can't pretend - that's me. I am not sure if my confessions about my weaknesses have been to the extend of boasting about my weaknesses but I certainly pray and hope that my life and how I live it will be a message, for His glory.
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