The Facebook Facade

I took an inventory of my social media accounts accounts a few weeks ago.  I tallied Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat (never use it), a blog I regularly write in, and 2 blogs I haven't touched in years.  It also got me thinking about, what I'm going to call, the Facebook facade.  

Most everyone I know has a Facebook.  I also think that one of the main purposes behind people having a Facebook is for them to look and feel awesome.  Sure, it's for connecting with people and sharing memories with others like we have never been able to before but let's face it.  You want people you went to high-school with to think your life is perfect and you have life all figured out.  I'm guilty of it and so are you...don't lie.  We want people to see the best of us at all times.

We don't, however, like for people to see the worst in us, the deep and dark places of our heart.  What would happen if Facebook changed it's terms and conditions to where you had to post every nitty-gritty and flawed detail of your life along with the good stuff.  We would all close our accounts and never return to social media again.  Why?  Because we're afraid of rejection.  We believe if people intimately know us, the real us, they would never want to speak with us again.  So we put up this facade on our Facebook and in public so people see the us we want them to see.

Romans 5:8-11English Standard Version (ESV)

8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. 11 More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

When Jesus died on the cross for our sins He knew us intimately.  Jesus, the eternal, perfect God intimately knows the deepest darkest corners of your heart that you have never shown to another person.  He knows all your sin, your embarrassments, all your shame, and all your secrets.  Yet, He still died for us.  He still accepted and cared for us enough that our God willingly laid down His life so we could be reconciled to Him.

When we accept Jesus, believe in who He said He was, and make Him Lord of our life He forgives every deep dark corner of our hearts.  He washes us clean and no longer sees a soul covered in wretchedness but God sees Jesus, He sees a perfect son or daughter.   Remember that as you go about your week.  God knows you intimately, scary intimately, but still in His great grace He loves you more that you can imagine.  Remember that this week and walk in confidence that the Creator of the universe knows and loves you.

We Care Because We're Adopted

Tyce has been doing something really cute over the past few weeks.  When he feels like he needs security he comes up to me, reaches up, and says "hold you" in the sweetest voice possible.  I then pick him up and he feels secure and safe.  He had his needs met with security or affection...or maybe even some mischief.  He does this because he knows I'm his dad and when he has a need I'll do whatever I can to meet it.  It's the same with God.

7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. 9 Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? 11 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

What do you think of when you hear the word Father?  For some of you it may mean warm memories, laughter, wisdom, and support.  For some of you the word father may bring up feelings of hurt, abandonment, or abuse.  Some of you may be resistant to connection with God as father.  Even the best example of a father here on Earth can't compare to our Heavenly father.  God is perfect in every way and He is the perfect Father.


In Galations 4 we read that we're adopted.  If you are a follower of Jesus Christ you are a child of God.  Once you were an orphan.  Once you were separated from your Heavenly Father but now you are one of His children!  You now have an eternal family. Because of this, because you have been adopted and redeemed, you pass along your care for the orphan and make sure that Earthly orphans experience the love of God through you.

We were adopted because of what Jesus did for us on the cross.  When he died on the cross He reconciled us with God and by His grace gave us the ability to because adopted into the family of God.  Let's never forget that.  We care for orphans, we care for the fatherless, because were were once Fatherless and orphaned.  Praise God for that this week and be intentional of finding ways to live out James 1:27 which says religion that is pure is to care for the widow and the orphan.  How can you have pure religion this week?