I'm a Fraud
I’m a fraud.
Do I have your attention?
In the circles and groups of people I find myself, claiming to be a sinner saved by grace is an easy tagline, one we all assume, claim, and project even with some of our victory laced throughout like we actually did any of the work to arrive in that grace-filled place. How quickly and easily do we cheapen the greatest sacrifice of all time?
REMINDER: Jesus is the only reason we got to choose relationship with a Heavenly Father and spend eternity with Him. (NOTHING we did validates WHO we are unless we have Him)
What I have found extremely easy to navigate, as I’ve been following Jesus, is how comfortable I am with the mask I wear that RESEMBLES Jesus but is actually the precursor to my own pride. It’s almost like I’ve believed the lie of seeing how much I can do, with the least amount of effort, to fool people into thinking I am ok. Maybe this is a Southern thing. Maybe this is a learned behavior. Maybe this is a “I care more about what people think than Jesus” thing.
We all have the games we play. It’s the passive lead-on’s that I am curious about here though. Is it easier to let people assume I read my Bible every day? Is it better to let people assume I agree just because I don’t actively disagree? Let’s make it MORE personal: is it ok to pretend my marriage is thriving even though we both know therapy should definitely be a priority because we are anything other than connected? Do I keep living my life as though I don’t have an expiration date, because my pride really does say I am invincible?
Proverbs 27:10 - “As a face is reflected in water, so the heart reflects the real person.”
We can all ride the highlights our lives give us. I’m not one to judge, I promise. But as we dig into what we are projecting, if we are going to be honest about that view changing, we have to be the most raw unedited versions of ourselves with the Almighty. Yes, it can and does come in those quiet times with Him. But it also presents itself in that gut clench in the middle of an argument. It shows itself in that moment in the middle of a hustle when you just don’t want to do the SAME hustle ANYMORE. (Shoutout to all the parents). I joke, but it’s really true for anyone. It’s in the moment of the sneak attack from grief that just won’t let up, and you know the only way relief will come is to relent.
A lot of times, when we see someone who is a wanderer and seems lost and doesn’t know what their next step should be, their next step seems so obvious to the outside world. But what if that’s us? What if we’ve been so good at letting everyone else assume what they see is the true version of us, but we know deep down we are conflicted in each step? What if we have gotten so good at leading a fraudulent life that we don’t even know how to be deeply reflective with the One Who made us? What would happen if the veil were to be dropped and the purest part of ourselves was allowed to curl up in our Father’s lap or even just take a very deep breath in His presence. Or even a long nap that gives us a break from the game of pretending that we’ve thought we needed to keep playing.
What if, as we jump into this New Year and Opendoor Conference, we let Jesus work on the things He created in the first place so the projection He intended to actually reflect Him matches how we feel on the inside. As we continue to run our race with Him in this life, may we be a people of active pursuit that flinches at a fake, because we KNOW the real deal; and His name is Jesus, and anything less won’t do.
2 Corinthians 3:18 - “So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord-who is the Spirit-makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.”
Do I have your attention?
In the circles and groups of people I find myself, claiming to be a sinner saved by grace is an easy tagline, one we all assume, claim, and project even with some of our victory laced throughout like we actually did any of the work to arrive in that grace-filled place. How quickly and easily do we cheapen the greatest sacrifice of all time?
REMINDER: Jesus is the only reason we got to choose relationship with a Heavenly Father and spend eternity with Him. (NOTHING we did validates WHO we are unless we have Him)
What I have found extremely easy to navigate, as I’ve been following Jesus, is how comfortable I am with the mask I wear that RESEMBLES Jesus but is actually the precursor to my own pride. It’s almost like I’ve believed the lie of seeing how much I can do, with the least amount of effort, to fool people into thinking I am ok. Maybe this is a Southern thing. Maybe this is a learned behavior. Maybe this is a “I care more about what people think than Jesus” thing.
We all have the games we play. It’s the passive lead-on’s that I am curious about here though. Is it easier to let people assume I read my Bible every day? Is it better to let people assume I agree just because I don’t actively disagree? Let’s make it MORE personal: is it ok to pretend my marriage is thriving even though we both know therapy should definitely be a priority because we are anything other than connected? Do I keep living my life as though I don’t have an expiration date, because my pride really does say I am invincible?
Proverbs 27:10 - “As a face is reflected in water, so the heart reflects the real person.”
We can all ride the highlights our lives give us. I’m not one to judge, I promise. But as we dig into what we are projecting, if we are going to be honest about that view changing, we have to be the most raw unedited versions of ourselves with the Almighty. Yes, it can and does come in those quiet times with Him. But it also presents itself in that gut clench in the middle of an argument. It shows itself in that moment in the middle of a hustle when you just don’t want to do the SAME hustle ANYMORE. (Shoutout to all the parents). I joke, but it’s really true for anyone. It’s in the moment of the sneak attack from grief that just won’t let up, and you know the only way relief will come is to relent.
A lot of times, when we see someone who is a wanderer and seems lost and doesn’t know what their next step should be, their next step seems so obvious to the outside world. But what if that’s us? What if we’ve been so good at letting everyone else assume what they see is the true version of us, but we know deep down we are conflicted in each step? What if we have gotten so good at leading a fraudulent life that we don’t even know how to be deeply reflective with the One Who made us? What would happen if the veil were to be dropped and the purest part of ourselves was allowed to curl up in our Father’s lap or even just take a very deep breath in His presence. Or even a long nap that gives us a break from the game of pretending that we’ve thought we needed to keep playing.
What if, as we jump into this New Year and Opendoor Conference, we let Jesus work on the things He created in the first place so the projection He intended to actually reflect Him matches how we feel on the inside. As we continue to run our race with Him in this life, may we be a people of active pursuit that flinches at a fake, because we KNOW the real deal; and His name is Jesus, and anything less won’t do.
2 Corinthians 3:18 - “So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord-who is the Spirit-makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.”
We'd love to hear from you! Let us know in the comments what God is speaking to you as you read these devotionals. If you haven't already subscribed to receive our devotional emails right to your inbox, hit the subscribe button below and invite your family and friends to subscribe as well! Thank you for being a part of our Opendoor Devotional Community. We appreciate you!
3 Comments
so good, Whit!
I’m a fraud too, you got my attention! This hit right where it needed to.
Raw honest frank
n
n