I recently started watching Greenleaf, a movie produced by Oprah Winfrey about church. I love the drama. I love the humanness and all the real truth about people. We all sin, we all fall short of the glory of God. But God…forgives us of our sins if we repent and be baptized in Jesus Name. There is a new life that begins and an old life that ends when we are baptized.
I’m only only on season two but I’m hooked already. I love the music, and the choir, and the hats on all the ladies. It is addicting! I recently came across a quote that stopped me in my tracks from this movie:
Charity: “Why does everything I do go wrong?”
Bishop Greenleaf: “Don’t you know the sparkle depends on the flaws in a diamond. I look at you now and you’ve never been brighter!” – Greenleaf S2:E7
Wow, that got me. I always thought my flaws disqualified me from the Kingdom of God. I was wrong! We all try to hide those imperfections don’t we? Especially at Church I believe. Yeah, we put on the Sunday dress/suit, hat, smile, and our “Hallelujah, Praise the Lord” attitude and pretend everything is going great. Our fellow brothers and sisters do the same thing. We all sit and shout and dance – all while each of us is hurting inside.
Dear Lord, help us all to become more transparent and truthful. I’m guilty, I admit it. I guess it’s my pride. I don’t want to share everything with everybody, that’s ok, that’s wise. But I do need to share something with somebody. Otherwise how can they pray for me? I can’t ask for help if I’m not willing to talk about it. When we go to the hospital or doctor’s office we are the first ones to list the symptoms we are battling in our physical lives. What if we could share with a few people that we trust the mental and spiritual battles we are fighting? I wonder what Church would look like then?
God’s Word for You:
“Therefore, confess your sins to one another [your false steps, your offenses], and pray for one another, that you may be healed and restored. The heartfelt and persistent prayer of a righteous man (believer) can accomplish much [when put into action and made effective by God—it is dynamic and can have tremendous power].” – James 5:16 AMP
“Consider it nothing but joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you fall into various trials. Be assured that the testing of your faith [through experience] produces endurance [leading to spiritual maturity, and inner peace]. And let endurance have its perfect result and do a thorough work, so that you may be perfect and completely developed [in your faith], lacking in nothing.” -James1:2-4 AMP
“Because of the surpassing greatness and extraordinary nature of the revelations [which I received from God], for this reason, to keep me from thinking of myself as important, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan, to torment and harass me—to keep me from exalting myself! Concerning this I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might leave me; but He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you [My lovingkindness and My mercy are more than enough—always available—regardless of the situation]; for [My] power is being perfected [and is completed and shows itself most effectively] in [your] weakness.” Therefore, I will all the more gladly boast in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ [may completely enfold me and] may dwell in me. So I am well pleased with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, and with difficulties, for the sake of Christ; for when I am weak [in human strength], then I am strong [truly able, truly powerful, truly drawing from God’s strength].-2Corinthians12:7-10AMP
“Love is to be sincere and active [the real thing—without guile and hypocrisy]. Hate what is evil [detest all ungodliness, do not tolerate wickedness]; hold on tightly to what is good. Be devoted to one another with [authentic] brotherly affection [as members of one family], give preference to one another in honor; never lagging behind in diligence; aglow in the Spirit, enthusiastically serving the Lord; constantly rejoicing in hope [because of our confidence in Christ], steadfast and patient in distress, devoted to prayer [continually seeking wisdom, guidance, and strength], contributing to the needs of God’s people, pursuing [the practice of] hospitality.-Romans12:9-13 AMP
My Prayer for You:
Dear Lord, let us not look upon our weaknesses as bad. For when we are weak You are strong! Let our cracks burn brightly and bring others to you, in Jesus Name!
