August 15th, 2023
I have been absolutely overwhelmed this week by the goodness and presence of God. There is nothing better than raw encounter with Him and I never want to get to the point that I’m satisfied with normal church services and life as usual. He has so much more for us!
One of the things God spoke to me about this week is regarding Hebrews 4:12-13 which says,
“The word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.”
We are naked and exposed to the One before Whom we will all stand and give an account.
Along these same lines 1 Peter 4:4-6 says,
“With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you; but they will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. For this is why the gospel was preached even to those who are dead, that though judged in the flesh the way people are, they might live in the spirit the way God does."
Romans 14:12 says,
“So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.”
Matthew 12:36-37 says,
“I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
These are scriptures that have the potential to make us a little uncomfortable, but we have to understand that we will stand before God. In the garden, prior to sin, Adam and Eve were naked and unashamed before God, and each other. It was perfect fellowship that made them unaware even of their own nakedness. Sin brought awareness of exposure, shame, and vulnerability. At that point they covered themselves with garments made of fig leaves and hid from their Creator.
In His mercy, He called to them saying, “where are you?” even though He already knew. In His love, He asked them “who told you that you were naked?” even though He already knew. In His righteousness, He removed them from the garden, because sin has consequences, but even in that, we see His plan for redemption.
He slaughtered an animal and covered them in garments of skin, replacing their insufficient fig leaves. This was the very first time blood was shed in a previously perfect creation, and it covered their shame. However, several thousand years later, Jesus died on a cross so that shame could be removed, rather than covered. The blood of Jesus atones for sin, redeeming us and removing our shame as if we’d never done it. Hebrews 9:12-14 says,
“He entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.”
Before Jesus came, there was a covering for sin by the shedding of animal blood, but in Jesus, we are restored to right relationship and can truly be naked, exposed, and unashamed.
Jesus’ sacrifice does not cover our sin; it removes it. That means we are safe to be vulnerable with Him and with the body of Christ. See, sin didn’t just destroy Adam and Eve’s relationship with God. It shattered their relationship with one another.
God’s desire is first to restore our relationship with Him and then to place us within the safety of the body, where we don’t have to hide anything, for “love covers a multitude of sins.”
The word hypocrisy in the Bible’s original language actually means to “act” or to “wear a mask.” How often do we go to church or spend time with other believers wearing a mask? It could be a mask of strength, self-sufficiency, or humor. Many of us are great actors, but we’re actually no better than Adam and Eve who covered themselves in fig leaves in an attempt to not be seen.
The only way we can function together in unity as believers is by laying down the masks we’re wearing. Vulnerability feels dangerous, but the body of Christ is meant to be a safe place. We are to love each other, as Christ loved us. We are to forgive each other as Christ forgave us. We are to cover and guard each other as Christ protects us.
The body of Christ isn’t an organization; it’s a family. It grieves His heart when we hide ourselves from one another. Sin will always bring division. The bride of Christ is meant to be one and we can only walk together when we are naked and unashamed, free, and united in love for Him. The Word of God is living and active. It will expose us, but only for healing. It will make us vulnerable, but only so we can receive love. We will only know full love when we’re fully known.
Only in love will the body be built up in the maturity that we are meant to stand in together. We are all different parts, and we need each other to function the way God created us function. We rejoice in the parts of the body that are different because every function is necessary. Running coordinates more muscles at the same time than any other type of workout without any external machine. It’s the highest form of human athleticism. In the body of Christ, we will only run in what God has called us to do when every muscle, tendon, and joint moves together correctly. The only way we can do that spiritually is by coming into alignment with God’s word and then taking off our masks so we can really love each other, as Jesus intended. He said they would know us by our love and that has to start with His body (John 13:35)!
The body of Christ is a safe place and this week I want to encourage you to allow the word of God to break down the walls you may have created. God is our protection and boundaries are important, but walls keep out what God wants in. Ephesians 4:15 says,
“Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.”
This week let’s grow. Let’s grow in love for God and in love for one another. We can stand unashamed by the blood of Jesus, before God and our brothers. Only in love can we truly run as one.
One of the things God spoke to me about this week is regarding Hebrews 4:12-13 which says,
“The word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.”
We are naked and exposed to the One before Whom we will all stand and give an account.
Along these same lines 1 Peter 4:4-6 says,
“With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you; but they will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. For this is why the gospel was preached even to those who are dead, that though judged in the flesh the way people are, they might live in the spirit the way God does."
Romans 14:12 says,
“So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.”
Matthew 12:36-37 says,
“I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
These are scriptures that have the potential to make us a little uncomfortable, but we have to understand that we will stand before God. In the garden, prior to sin, Adam and Eve were naked and unashamed before God, and each other. It was perfect fellowship that made them unaware even of their own nakedness. Sin brought awareness of exposure, shame, and vulnerability. At that point they covered themselves with garments made of fig leaves and hid from their Creator.
In His mercy, He called to them saying, “where are you?” even though He already knew. In His love, He asked them “who told you that you were naked?” even though He already knew. In His righteousness, He removed them from the garden, because sin has consequences, but even in that, we see His plan for redemption.
He slaughtered an animal and covered them in garments of skin, replacing their insufficient fig leaves. This was the very first time blood was shed in a previously perfect creation, and it covered their shame. However, several thousand years later, Jesus died on a cross so that shame could be removed, rather than covered. The blood of Jesus atones for sin, redeeming us and removing our shame as if we’d never done it. Hebrews 9:12-14 says,
“He entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.”
Before Jesus came, there was a covering for sin by the shedding of animal blood, but in Jesus, we are restored to right relationship and can truly be naked, exposed, and unashamed.
Jesus’ sacrifice does not cover our sin; it removes it. That means we are safe to be vulnerable with Him and with the body of Christ. See, sin didn’t just destroy Adam and Eve’s relationship with God. It shattered their relationship with one another.
God’s desire is first to restore our relationship with Him and then to place us within the safety of the body, where we don’t have to hide anything, for “love covers a multitude of sins.”
The word hypocrisy in the Bible’s original language actually means to “act” or to “wear a mask.” How often do we go to church or spend time with other believers wearing a mask? It could be a mask of strength, self-sufficiency, or humor. Many of us are great actors, but we’re actually no better than Adam and Eve who covered themselves in fig leaves in an attempt to not be seen.
The only way we can function together in unity as believers is by laying down the masks we’re wearing. Vulnerability feels dangerous, but the body of Christ is meant to be a safe place. We are to love each other, as Christ loved us. We are to forgive each other as Christ forgave us. We are to cover and guard each other as Christ protects us.
The body of Christ isn’t an organization; it’s a family. It grieves His heart when we hide ourselves from one another. Sin will always bring division. The bride of Christ is meant to be one and we can only walk together when we are naked and unashamed, free, and united in love for Him. The Word of God is living and active. It will expose us, but only for healing. It will make us vulnerable, but only so we can receive love. We will only know full love when we’re fully known.
Only in love will the body be built up in the maturity that we are meant to stand in together. We are all different parts, and we need each other to function the way God created us function. We rejoice in the parts of the body that are different because every function is necessary. Running coordinates more muscles at the same time than any other type of workout without any external machine. It’s the highest form of human athleticism. In the body of Christ, we will only run in what God has called us to do when every muscle, tendon, and joint moves together correctly. The only way we can do that spiritually is by coming into alignment with God’s word and then taking off our masks so we can really love each other, as Jesus intended. He said they would know us by our love and that has to start with His body (John 13:35)!
The body of Christ is a safe place and this week I want to encourage you to allow the word of God to break down the walls you may have created. God is our protection and boundaries are important, but walls keep out what God wants in. Ephesians 4:15 says,
“Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.”
This week let’s grow. Let’s grow in love for God and in love for one another. We can stand unashamed by the blood of Jesus, before God and our brothers. Only in love can we truly run as one.
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