SINCERITY? I have been shown that one of the main attributes that the Lord is looking for is simple sincerity. In John 1:47, Jesus praised a man named Nathanael, calling him a man in whom is no guile. In John 4:23, Jesus talked about the Father looking for true worshippers. Both of these speak of authentic heart responses that did not carry other subtle motives or agendas. The word SINCERE itself is said to derive from the practice of ancient pottery making. SIN means without and CERE means wax. Often when potters would bake their vessel, cracks would show up that would greatly devalue the vessel or render it of no value. Potters would fill the cracks with wax and paint over it to cover up the defect. If a Corinthian pottery shop had over it SINCERUS it meant that the pottery contained no wax and that what you saw is what you were getting. This made the pottery valuable. The message here is get rid of the wax. Especially the wax around your heart. You, yourself, are the best judge of your own sincerity. If you are aware that you are not transparently living out of your heart - but rather out of agenda- then do business with God and become a sincere person. It can be difficult in such a tough, cynical, agenda-driven world, but we must become as little children in this way. He wants to give the kingdom to His hopeful, radiant, sincere, non-grudge holding children. For 2014 may you take full advantage of what He is making available to us by not sabotaging your own awesome destiny. He really doesnt need you to be perfect, and He just wants you to extend that same grace to others. Now prepare to be catapulted. Johnny Enlow
Posted on: Sat, 18 Jan 2014 22:25:18 +0000