To live as an authentic, ransomed, and redeemed Christian means to be real and present in this moment. God lives in the eternal present, displaying His omnipotent, omnipresent, omniscient character for all to see if they will only look. But people continue to hide acting like ostriches with their heads buried in the ground pretending that if they deny it, reality will just go away. When we hide, we stand to lose much. There is no intimacy with God if we hide and pretend that we are doing right when we offer the gospel only to those whom we deem worthy to hear. And worse than that, we show only the side of ourselves that looks strong or we believe people will like.

We must be transparent with ourselves, with others, and with God. We are only fooling ourselves if we do anything else. We cannot do the things that we were meant to do if we allow ourselves to remain bound by shame and fear, presenting only to the world the face we have learned is safe or that we believe that they want to see. This is life. It is the only one that we have. God loves us and forgives us. He turns our perceived weaknesses into strengths for His glory. It would be best to live as His forgiven, redeemed, and blood-bought children instead of acting like we are strong enough to make it on our own. But, reality is as U2 so aptly sings, "Sometimes you can't make it on your own."

If we enter into His reality, we realize that the only thing that we have to offer that is of any worth is what God has done and is continuing to do in our lives. Our only true wealth is that which God pours into us.

It is no accident that you live where you live. It is no accident that we were born when we were born. And if we are born again, it is not a fluke that we have the desires to serve God that we do. God has been working throughout the ages to bring us this place. Esther was born for "for such a time as this" (Esth. 4:14). So were we. The church needs us to be who God has called us to be, using the gifts and talents that we have been blessed with for His glory. We are loved and we are needed. There is a world out there who needs Jesus. We need to live up to our calling.

3 Jesus knew that the Father had given everything into his hands, that he had come from God, and that he was going back to God. 4 So he got up from supper, laid aside his outer clothing, took a towel, and tied it around himself. 5 Next, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet and to dry them with the towel tied around him.” — John 13:3–5 (CSB)

This was not a task for a worldly king. It was not a task that his friends, the disciples, were comfortable seeing Him do. But, Jesus knew who he was. He knew where he had come from and where he was going. He knew why he was here. ...He knows why you are here

God really does want you to know who you are. He wants you to be able to understand the story of your life. He wants you to know where you have come from. And more, He wants you to know where you are going. There is freedom in that. There is freedom to be who you are and do do what you have been called to do. There is freedom to love others without the hidden shame and guilt of sin. There is freedom to be yourself and to like it, if you will allow God to forgive you and cleanse you from your sin. Jesus said, "Therefore if the Son sets you free, you really will be free." (John 8:36)

Enjoy your freedom!