Surrendering Self. For the Sake of Genuine Community

For am I now seeking the approval of man or God? Or am I still trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man I would not be a servant of Christ. Galatians 1:10

Sometimes I don't want to surrender to God. It's hard to do. It means killing my flesh. Dying to self. One thing that the Lord wants me to surrender to him is being a people-pleaser.  I am the type of person that wants everyone to like me and for people to be happy with me. That means not opening up completely to my community. Sometimes it means that I do not obey God when he tells me to do something because I am afraid that it will make someone upset.

 Through the years I have formed this mentality that I need to have my crap together when I go to small group/church. I think need to go into church with a smile on my face ready to just bless the socks off someone instead of being real with them and talking about the struggles and the victories that I had faced during that week.

This is an issue for church community. If we are not genuine with our own brothers and sisters in Christ who can we be genuine with? How beautiful would it be if we were just straight up honest with one another during our small group time! I understand that it is difficult to lay bare before people, but the church is to build each other up! How can the church family build you up if they do not know how broken down you are? 

Ephesians 4:1-3, 15-16

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.  Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 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.

So, I am making a commitment to be real with my people. I am tired of the “Heyhowareyou” “Fine,you?” stuff. The end goal of being open and honest is to glorify the Lord. When the church is being uplifted by the believers within it, God's word is being honored.The church is such a fascinating work when we bear with one another in love and when we speak the truth!  I challenge you to be authentic about your walk with your people.

Community will become authentic, when we become authentic.