LIVING HONESTLY

1 Chronicles 29:11-18
11 Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is Yours. Yours, O Lord, is the kingdom; You are exalted as head over all. . . . 16 O Lord our God, as for all this abundance that we have provided for building You a temple for Your Holy Name, it comes from Your hand, and all of it belongs to You. 17 I know, my God, that You test the heart and are pleased with integrity. All these things have
I given willingly and with honest intent. And now I have seen with joy how willingly Your people who are here have given to You. 18 O Lord, God of our fathers Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, keep this desire in the hearts of Your people forever, and keep their hearts loyal to You.

Caedmon's Call has been cranking out quality tunes for 10 years now. They're a band known for insightful lyrics and their own unique sound.

In 2003, guitarist and vocalist Derek Webb left the group to go solo. In an interview for Deeperdevotion.com, Derek described how God led him into his new music ministry. He also said some words about honesty that burned straight to my heart:

"The main thing that Christian [musical] artists are lacking right now in my opinion is honesty. A lot of [them] come in with the fa?ade of victorious Christian lives. This kind of perfect righteousness that they model isn't what's really true about us as believers. Our Savior is great but we are not; our Savior is righteous but we are not. I would prefer to see Christian artists be honest about their sins and struggles, and for the Christian community to embrace a perspective of the gospel to where they can deal with that."

Derek's words struck a chord with me because, like King David, I've often tried to hide my ugly side. Let someone know I'm struggling with a sin? Be honest with others about some dirt on my doorstep? That's scary stuff.

It's easier to appear confident and holy. But it didn't work for David and it won't work for us. You know his story. David failed miserably in his life. But when he came clean--when he chose honesty over self-protection--God disciplined him, but also blessed him.

At the end of his life, as the king was handing the kingdom off to his son Solomon, David was thinking about honesty: "I know, my God, that You test the heart and are pleased with integrity. All these things have I given willingly and with honest intent" (1 Chronicles 29:17). He was being real before God.

Are you putting on a "perfect Christian" fa?ade? Lose it. Be honest about your struggles and point to Jesus as the only perfect One. His grace can handle your honesty. --Tom Felten

DESTINATION POINTS

* What things am I trying to hide from God and others?
* How will my life change as I open up about my struggles and reveal my sin?

bottom line: Honesty is being real--not appearing holy.

soul journey