7-8 But mostly, show them all this by doing it yourself, trustworthy in your teaching, your words solid and sane. Then anyone who is dead set against us, when he finds nothing weird or misguided, might eventually come around. Titus 2:7-8 The Message
Recently I attended a casual gathering of friends where we played a game called: Two Truths and a Lie. Some of you may remember this fun ice-breaker. Each person recites three statements about themselves, but only two of these things are truths and the other is a lie. The group then determines which of the three statements is the lie.
As we proceeded to do this, your listening and observation skills are honed. You look to see how the person speaking is acting (if there are any tell tale signs of deception in their eye contact, fidgeting) or if their voice tone changes.
Naturally, there are those whose chosen statements were easily detected because they sounded so outrageous and out of character. But then there were those who spoke very calmly and without detection in their outward behavior that made it quite difficult to decipher which one was a false statement.
And that’s a warning to us as Believers. To check ourselves before we leave out the front door to minister to others. Just as we check our appearance in that last mirror before starting our day to assure our buttons are aligned and closed, that the broccoli from the meal is not sitting on our smile, that the toothpaste really did land in the sink and not on our shirt and that both of our shoes are the same color (some of you may have experienced the same-shoe-different-color faux pas as I have years ago).
As a living representation of our Savior, we really do need to do this final check to be sure we are adhering to the integrity of who we claim to be and living up to the Gospel we proclaim.
Just as in the game of Two Truths and a Lie, there are things that will sound plausible and almost Gospel truth when spoken with enthusiasm and fervor. But that doesn’t make the lies truth.
The Apostle Paul reminds us in this Scripture passage to be sure that we are living our personal lives according the the standard that GOD set forth. His Commands. Non negotiable. Uncompromising. We cannot require of others what we will not do for ourselves.
And in many cases, we live out this testimony without uttering a word. What others see often speaks louder than words.
7 But God told Samuel, “Looks aren’t everything. Don’t be impressed with his looks and stature. I’ve already eliminated him. God judges persons differently than humans do. Men and women look at the face; God looks into the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7 The Message
Even if we tried to live a holy and acceptable life, if it is not done with integrity, GOD is not fooled.
We justify our actions by appearances;
God examines our motives. Proverbs 21:2 The Message
So, if any of this has caused you or me to pause and consider some untruths, deception or lies to surface to the frontal part of our brain, then it’s time to examine those things. You won’t find judgement from me, Sister, I’m not perfect either. But together we can rid our lives of what may be holding us back from living in the freedom of the truth that we say we believe.
And we all know that living in that Truth is living free.
1-6 God, investigate my life;
get all the facts firsthand.
I’m an open book to you;
even from a distance, you know what I’m thinking.
You know when I leave and when I get back;
I’m never out of your sight.
You know everything I’m going to say
before I start the first sentence.
I look behind me and you’re there,
then up ahead and you’re there, too—
your reassuring presence, coming and going.
This is too much, too wonderful—
I can’t take it all in!7-12 Is there anyplace I can go to avoid your Spirit?
to be out of your sight?
If I climb to the sky, you’re there!
If I go underground, you’re there!
If I flew on morning’s wings
to the far western horizon,
You’d find me in a minute—
you’re already there waiting!
Then I said to myself, “Oh, he even sees me in the dark!
At night I’m immersed in the light!”
It’s a fact: darkness isn’t dark to you;
night and day, darkness and light, they’re all the same to you.13-16 Oh yes, you shaped me first inside, then out;
you formed me in my mother’s womb.
I thank you, High God—you’re breathtaking!
Body and soul, I am marvelously made!
I worship in adoration—what a creation!
You know me inside and out,
you know every bone in my body;
You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit,
how I was sculpted from nothing into something.
Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth;
all the stages of my life were spread out before you,
The days of my life all prepared
before I’d even lived one day.17-22 Your thoughts—how rare, how beautiful!
God, I’ll never comprehend them!
I couldn’t even begin to count them—
any more than I could count the sand of the sea.
Oh, let me rise in the morning and live always with you!
And please, God, do away with wickedness for good!
And you murderers—out of here!—
all the men and women who belittle you, God,
infatuated with cheap god-imitations.
See how I hate those who hate you, God,
see how I loathe all this godless arrogance;
I hate it with pure, unadulterated hatred.
Your enemies are my enemies!23-24 Investigate my life, O God,
find out everything about me;
Cross-examine and test me,
get a clear picture of what I’m about;
See for yourself whether I’ve done anything wrong—
then guide me on the road to eternal life. Psalm 139 The Message
I love you to Heaven and Back, Girlfriend ~~
LindaRJohnson, TitusTwo Visionary
Titus Two 