When Jesus teaches how to pray in Matthew 6, one of His instructions is: “But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you” (v.6).
This is when we are truly revealed. When we sit alone in the presence of God and openly and honestly speak to Him, it is uncomfortable. We are broken creatures before a righteous Creator, reflecting on His grace poured out on our undeserving selves. Yet Jesus says that the “Father … will reward you.”
We are assured of His love for us, and our worth is based in this truth: “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). This is the foundation of integrity and authenticity.
When we learn to sit with the Father and join Him in gazing with sadness at our brokenness, and still receive from Him our value as children of God, we can begin the process of healing. Out of these experiences, we gain the courage to be vulnerable with those around us. We can share the stories of what God has done in our lives. We can be honest about where we are in our walk with God and how we feel broken. We can encourage one another to sit with the Father and put our hope in Him. This is authenticity.
In this issue, we dive into authenticity and integrity. We receive challenges to live into who God says we are, despite knowing we aren’t there yet, and to learn to see the people around us who are struggling and in need. We hear a story of redemption in a journey through mental illness. We are called to put off our old selves and take on our identity in Christ. Journey with us in learning what it means to be “uncovered.”
More in This Issue
- Feature: Uncovered: Being a Safe Place That Embraces All
- Bishops: hip, hurrah for…hypocrites?
- Action: Bringing Healing to the Brokenhearted
- Discipleship: The Power and Problem of Authenticity
- Discipleship: The Invisible Life
- Discipleship: Throw Me a Bone
- Free Methodist Church News: Arson Doesn’t Stop Oregon Church
- Free Methodist Church News: Urban Missionaries to Start Detroit Churches
