I want to start by thanking all of you who have left comments or sent emails in response to my blog series about “Taking Off the Masks”. I am always encouraged to receive your feedback, both positive and constructive, as I believe this form of dialogue is an effective way for us to grow and enrich our faith.
My dear brothers and sisters, every week as I pray about what to write, I ask the Lord to reveal to me areas in which He wants us (me included!) to grow, to be challenged, and to let go of in order for us to conform more to His image. I have no intention to judge anyone, as that is not my job; however, I do take seriously my role in preparing the Body of Messiah for Judgment Day, and I believe we all need to search and examine our hearts daily. I write this as a word of encouragement for each of you to see my heart and my real face, without a mask.
In Part 1, I wrote about how we tend to mask our outward self with a perfect appearance (not just physically, but also emotionally and spiritually). As I was reflecting more on this issue, I realized that often times, that mask will not only bring us to a place where we are dishonest with ourselves (and more importantly with God) but will also damage our witness and our ability to witness to others as well.
What do I mean by this? When we put on a mask that everything is “perfect”, we at times start to think (even if it is unintentionally) that we are better than others; this makes us unapproachable and prevents others from feeling free to come and speak to us. It can also cause us to be quick to judge other people in their speech, the way they dress, how and what they eat, etc. If they don’t do things the way we think they should, we look down at them and block our hearts from reaching out to them.
We never know why people behave, speak, dress and talk the way that they do. We have to be very careful from judging someone based on his or her outward appearance or behavior.
Every year, I have the privilege to host different tour groups from around the world in Israel. As part of that, I get to share God’s story in my life, the way He brought me from darkness to light. Part of my reality before becoming a follower of the Messiah is that I lost several friends in different terror acts and war here in Israel. So at times as I share the story, I get emotional and the masks come off…the rawness of the pain that I experienced during that difficult time becomes very real again.
One time, I described an incident that took place in my past, when a close friend from my military service called me to let me know that a mutual friend of ours was killed in action. As I got emotional, I told the story in the same exact words that my friend left in her message on my voice mail, one of which was a strong word that Israelis use all the time, but that holds a different meaning for non-Israelis.
Some of the people in that tour group judged me very harshly for saying this word, claiming it destroyed their tour, and their opinion of me. The fact that I was honest, without a mask, did not fit the way they thought I should be, completely ignoring the fact that I was simply sharing a story that took place many years ago.
My dear brothers and sisters, let me remind you once again that life is not perfect, no one person is perfect, and the only perfect being is our God! When we put on a mask of perfection, we block others from being able to come to us and to be truly honest about where they are at out of fear that we will judge and look down upon them. More than that, when we put on a mask of perfection, we mislead others who do not yet know the Messiah, since they will eventually discover that even as believers we have struggles and life is not perfect.
We are called to bring His light into the darkness; let us remove all things that hinder us from running this race, including the mask of perfection. Let’s be honest and real with ourselves and with others until the day of His return, when all will be truly perfect.
Shabbat Shalom,
Moran
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4 Comments on “Take Off Your Mask of Perfection! (Part 2)”
Shalom Moran!Thank you for all your weekly writing. It has become my “shabbat reading” that I share with my jewish husband. I am a believer since I was a teenager and the Lord guided my all the way to Israel in 1978 in an amazing way. I became a volunteer and later on a member in a Kibbutz in the Negev where I lived until 1986. When our first son was one year me and my husband left to Sweden and Gotland where we live now. The Lord have been our great help during theese years in Sweden and the thoughts have always been on our minds to return back to Israel. But meanwhile we are still here. Two of our sons have been to Israel on their own and beeing volunteeres , our daughter not yet. And we as a family have been twice to Israel. I have always since I met my husband been having the deepest wish that he will find Yeshua as his saviour and of course our children. I am so thankful to read how in Israel there are people that find their faith in MessiahYeshua. Its amazing to read all the news. I do see how sisters and brothers are lost in their Bible Reading and cannot see how God has a great plan with Israel. All know also how Sweden as a country is turning the back against Israel and also many Christians. I pray that all Christians will wake up and stand on Israels side. Well I do pray for Ha Eretz and Am Israel and of course my husband and our three children Jonathan Samuel and Hanna that Yeshua will come into their hearts. Shabbat Shalom (I hope I soon will be able to visit Israel then it would be nice to visit your center). Greetings with the peace of God
It is truly amazing how beautifully and faithfully God works in our lives. Reading this blog Moran confirms it. Thank you so much. God has recently been purifying parts of my heart that I didn’t know needed purifying, like pride. I mean I knew I was a bit prideful but I didn’t realize just how much. Coming to the realization of this ugly truth made my insides crindge, but God’s loving words reminded me that He still loved me. Pheeeww!! If anyone reading this is dealing with pride as a stronghold, I recommend you read
From Pride to Humility by Stuart Scott. I didn’t know having low self-esteem, for example, was a form of pride, it’s just on the flip side of the pride coin. That was one of several revelations. Pride is such an ugly thing, as much as it hurt to came face to face with that reality, I’m glad I did. I don’t ever want to limit what God can do through me due to pride.
check the booklet out, you can purchase it on amazon for $5.
Thank you, Moran, for sharing your stories and expressing what Adonai speaks to you each week. The subject of taking off masks that we have delved into the last few weeks has been good and a great reminder for me to keep away from perfection tendencies that I have had since I was a child. Comparing myself to others and others to myself can get quite debilitating and blocks hearing from G_d and focusing on what He wants for each day. G_d is at the helm of our path to our destination using the gifts and talents He gave us and they are not to be compared to anyone else’s’.
Praise G_d we can share our weaknesses and strengths together and build each other up in His truth!
Shalom,
Mary
Amen, Brother Moran ! Our empathy for other people, believers and non-believers, resolves much of judgmental spirit. So sad when other people prefer to misunderstand than think over and consider the feelings and situation of the person they are judging.
Shavua tov and praying for further, more success with HIM in you. Amen.