Taking Off Our Masks

I was at the doctor's office today. Believe me, the doctor's office is not a place you want to be if you want to stay healthy! There are a lot of sick people there! Many people had on masks. I am not sure whether they were trying to protect others from their illness or to protect themselves for others illnesses.

I started thinking about how we all wear masks at one time or another. We try to cover up who we are so others won't see the real person. We are trying to protect ourselves and others from the truth about ourselves. We are afraid to let others see us for who we really are. But if we put the mask on around others, we become the perfect people that we want others to think we are. We are the perfect parent who never loses their temper with their child, is always ready and willing to drive their child anywhere they want, always ready to coach the team, bake the cookies, take care of sick children, whatever they need! We become the perfect spouse - ready to do anything for the one we love. We become the perfect employee - ready to perform any job that our employer wants and with a smile on our face. We become the perfect neighbor - ready to help our neighbors, cook a meal, loan a tool. We become the perfect church member - ready to serve on any committee that we are asked, always present at every church service and on the front row! In essence, with our masks on we become the person that we think God wants us to be.

What happens when we take our masks off, when we are home alone or when we think no one is looking? Are we still so loving and kind? Do we still perform our jobs with a smile on our face? Are we still patient and loving with our kids? Are we still there for our spouse? Do we show love to our neighbors? Are we still so willing to help them out in any way they need? And are we still so devoted to our church family? Do we serve on those committees with the love that Christ wants us to have or do we complain about all the time it takes?

In other words, when we don't have our masks on, are we the people that Christ would have us be? Are we loving and kind to others? Do we thank God that we have a job to go to and that pays the bills? Do we thank God every day for our families - our children and spouses - no matter how frustrated we may get? Are we faithful to our church and church family? Do we praise God everyday for our church family? Do we live the life that God wants us to life? Do we thank God everyday for His love and faithfulness?

Lord, help us to be the people you want us to be everyday with our masks off! Let us show others who we truly are - the godly people you want us to be - everyday. Help us to live a life that You would have us live so that we don't need to wear any masks! Help us show You to others by the way we live, the words we speak, our actions - all without masks! Let us let your light shine through us.

Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy." 1 Peter 13-16