Colossians 3:17 – And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (ESV)

I heard a story recently about a city official whose past online postings, containing derisive and hateful speech, were brought to the present wider audience. He was embarrassed and expressed remorse, saying that his postings were juvenile and that he wanted people to make judgements on his public actions, not his private postings. As I heard this, I wondered how my own public life matches up with my private life.

There are people who express themselves openly and without reserve. Sometimes, they can be difficult to be around, but I do not think that they are being deceitful. They are the same publicly as they are privately. Sometimes, we call this being open and transparent. I am an introvert and tend to hold my thoughts inside as I process things, and I am slow to express an opinion or a feeling. I admit to thinking thoughts that I would not want to be made public because I want people to think highly of me. But as a believer in Christ, I have tools to work on these private thoughts so that they can be reshaped to match what I honestly believe and to reflect only that to others around me.

2 Corinthians 10:5-6 – We use our powerful God-tools for smashing warped philosophies, tearing down barriers erected against the truth of God, fitting every loose thought and emotion and impulse into the structure of life shaped by Christ. Our tools are ready at hand for clearing the ground of every obstruction and building lives of obedience into maturity. (MSG)

I recall a story of a little girl who asked her mom, "Is it true that God is bigger than us?" Mom said, "Yes". The little girl said, "My teacher says that God is in us. Is that true?" Mom said, "Yes, that is true, too." The little girl said, "Well, if God in in us and He is bigger than us, then shouldn't He leak out?"

Our true character leaks out as we live our lives before God and others. Our public actions and words project an image that merges with our private thoughts, and who we really are is eventually revealed.

Friends, do our lives "leak" the attractive and beautiful grace of the indwelling Holy Spirit to others?

2 Corinthians 2:15 – For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. (NIV)

Prayer: "Change my heart, O God. Make it ever true. Change my heart, O God. May I be like You." Amen. (Eddie Espinosa)

Forward this devotional     Share on Facebook

About the author:

Sharon Lundquist <lundquistsharon4@gmail.com>
Beaverton, Oregon, USA
Send your feedback to the author