FULLY UNMASKED

TRANSFORMED: GIVE GOD CONTROL OF YOUR THINKING AND LIVE FULLY CONVINCED OF HIS LOVE - DAY 16

In the year of our Lord 2020, we were all asked to put on masks to protect the well-being of the public. And while our physical bodies may have benefited from the exercise, our emotional health took a hit. Masks made it much easier for misguided people to hide their true intentions. Discerning if someone was speaking sincerely with genuine interest in our welfare became much most difficult to discern.

To describe how we should put our faith in action as a “living sacrifice,” the Apostle Paul begins by declaring we should love with sincerity. The original Greek word here literally means “without a mask” to denote how actors in the theater would wear masks to accentuate an emotion they were seeking to portray. The expression of the “false face” did not necessarily truly represent the feelings held by the performer.

“Love” for the believer cannot be a half-hearted act of hypocrisy. Our inner disposition should match the upfront words of our mouth and the tenderness on our face. Fully unmasked, we are called to reach out to “one another” and reflect the selfless sacrifice of our Savior.

The “lover” of Christ does not remain neutral. A sincere lover recognizes what is morally corrupt and evil and remains repulsed. The love of God moves us to only regard what is virtuous and right.

Friend, when you surrendered your life to Christ, He removed your mask of shame and transformed you into a new creation. His Spirit inside you teaches you how to persevere in extending His grace without pretense. Everywhere you go, you fully embody the love of Jesus.