Yesterday in the post titled "Be Transparent" we discussed what it means to be Transparent. We talked about the picture we project to the world verses our reality. I used the analogy of transparencies and projectors teachers used to use in school before smart boards, white boards and tablets. The teacher would place a blank Transparency on the projector and would then begin to teach that day's lesson by writing on the transparency while he or she taught. The light from the projector would go straight through the film of the transparency and only project onto the screen the writing on the transparency. The good news is the transparencies were reusable! They could be cleaned off and used for another class!
The same is true in our walk with Christ. We have many things in our hearts that need to be erased for new and fresh content. We need new things written upon us so we are projecting the correct things while being transparent. What needs to be erased?
Ephesians 4:31 says Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with malice.
Let's break this down like we did yesterday and look at what these words mean:
- bitterness = poison
- wrath = indignation
- anger = violent passion
- clamor = outcry/loud arguments
- evil speaking = vilification; blasphemy
We don't like to think we do any of these things, right? But I look around at our country right now and the posts I see on Facebook. How many of us are participating in these things toward each other? Our President? A different ethnicity? How many of us experience anger before love? How many of us are so easily offended that we lash out immediately pointing out faults of others? The scripture above says we are to put away from us these things with malice.
- Malice = with intent, often prejudicial, meaning harm, intent.
How do we do that? How do we put these things away from us? Ephesians 4:32 says: And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.
Yeah, but...what does that mean? Let's break this one down too:
- be kind = useful
- tenderhearted = well compasioned, sympathetic
- forgiving = pardon, rescue, deliver
Okay, so wow. Now, we see the definition of the Greek root words for this scripture and it takes on a new meaning, doesn't it? Not only are we to be kind, but that means we are to be useful to each other...to our neighbors...to our fellow believers and unbelievers alike. What does it mean to be useful to each other? We can help each other. We can speak healing words. Proverbs 15:1 says: A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
As a Christian, we should be speaking uplifting healing words to our fellow man, whether they are a believer or not. We should be speaking soft words of love in response to those that are angry with use and display wrath. Our response can diffuse the situation or make the situation worse. Remember, our transparency will reveal what is written on us. We will project what is written to others. What do we want others to see? Are you compassionate and sympathetic to those less fortunate? Are you offering forgiveness to those that wrong or offend you? Your forgiveness of another sets you free from the bondage of unforgiveness and allows your transparency to show what has been re-written.
Look at 1 John 3:1-9. This set of scriptures is pretty straightforward about us if we continue in the way of sin and do not become transparent with the Light of Christ shining through us. How are we to be a city on a hill letting our light shine for all to see if we are determined to keep our sins hidden in the dark? 1 John says the following: If we abide in Him, there is no sin. If we practice righteousness, then we are righteous as He is because we have His seed within us, which is incorruptible (1 Peter 1:23). If we practice sin, then we are of the devil because the devil has sinned from the beginning. These are not my words. These are the words in 1 John in the Word of God.
BUT....
1 John 3 also says we are children of God. We shall be like Him. We shall see Him as He is.
So...what are you allowing to be written on the transparency of your heart? What are you projecting to the world? Are you projecting kindness, forgiveness, tenderheartedness? Or are you projecting anger, wrath, bitterness, clamoring, and evil speaking? Are you going to allow the Lord to write His ways and commandments on the tablets of your heart? (Proverbs 7:1-3) . Will you allow the transparency of your heart be erased and something new be written upon it? Do you want to change what you are projecting to the world?
Father, help us today to recognize the areas in our hearts we are keeping secret and hidden. Help us to be transparent. Let Your Holy Spirit write upon our hearts Your word. Let us project to those around us the light of Your Son. In the name of Jesus, amen.
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