WHAT DOES YOUR MASK LOOK LIKE?

[HOPE - Psalm 43:5]

WHAT DOES YOUR MASK LOOK LIKE?



1 Samuel 16:7
… for God sees not as man sees,
for man looks at the outward appearance,
but the LORD looks at the heart."

One of my hobbies is collecting clowns and masks. I have angry clowns, crying clowns, laughing clowns and more. I have a clown in leopard gear, a clown that is an attorney in a courtroom a clown that’s a child and many more. I also have several masks. I’m often asked why I’m fascinated with clowns. My response is “everyone puts on a face or wears a mask. We all paint our faces with expressions or put on “masks” to prevent others from seeing what we are feeling on the inside. When we are sad, we paint our faces or put on the mask of happiness. When we are angry, we put on the mask of calm and serenity. When being sneaky, the mask of innocence. While in church, the mask of … a saint.

BUT GOD SEES THE HEART.

In my twenties I was very calculating, manipulative and deceitful. I no longer wanted people to discover my emotions based on my facial expressions. So, I decided to stand in the mirror and practice a smile. It was a simple and pleasant smile. I would practice it until I knew what it felt like and could put on that smile at any given time. When I was angry, I’d put on the smile. Broken hearted - the smile. Especially when I was set on being vindictive – the smile would appear. The only people who recognize the smile are my best friends. They recognize it because they know me very well and know what *irks* me.

In the following passage, Luke tells the story of a woman with an alabaster box. I re-read this story and of course the woman is hailed as the heroin and I applaud her sincere salutation to the Savior. But I noticed one person that I once identified with…the Pharisee.

Luke 7:37-38 (NASB)
37 And there was a woman in the city who was a sinner; and when she learned that He was reclining at the table in the Pharisee's house, she brought an alabaster vial of perfume,
38 and standing behind Him at His feet, weeping, she began to wet His feet with her tears, and kept wiping them with the hair of her head, and kissing His feet and anointing them with the perfume.
39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet He would know who and what sort of person this woman is who is touching Him, that she is a sinner."

Notice how the scripture read, “he said to himself”? Do you think others knew what he was thinking? I wonder if he too had a “smile” that he put on for his guest…Jesus.

40 Jesus answered him, "Simon, I have something to tell you."
"Tell me, teacher," he said.

41 "Two men owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty.

42 Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he canceled the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?"

43 Simon replied, "I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled."
"You have judged correctly," Jesus said.

Wow, Jesus ignored the Pharisee’s mask, caught his thought and addressed the issue in the form of a parable.

44 Then He (Jesus) turned toward the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair.

45You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet.

46You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet.

47Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little."

50 Jesus said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."

And after correction came instruction for one, salvation for the other.

What does your mask look like?

Has the Holy Spirit ever caught and convicted you of stinkin’ thinkin’ ?

Did you receive instruction or salvation?


Father, I pray that we learn to remove the masks in our every day lives. I pray that we yield to the guidance of your Holy Spirit and continue to renew our minds daily with Your Word. In doing so, we will die to ourselves and become more like Jesus. We will have The Attitude of Gratitude whenever you correct us Lord because we know your discipline is a sign of your love for us. We praise you this day and all the days to come.

Amen

~Minister Tracy Curtis-Busby~


Remember, God wants you to have
The Attitude of Gratitude.
So TAG someone today.

TAG, You’re It!!!
________________________________________
T.A.G. MINISTRIES, INTERNATIONAL
Tracy Curtis-Busby, Founder
Website: http://www.webministrysites.com/tag/
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Blog: http://tagmin.blogspot.com/
EMAIL: [e-mail]

I Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NASB)