Life is short. Live your life in the light of Christ, which often shines differently from the rest of the world.

As a society, we often see things that many take for granted as blessings, but we should enjoy them without overindulging.

I believe in the truth, even when others choose to lie because they are so concerned with appearances.

When you learn to live according to who you were born to be in Christ, it doesn’t matter what anyone thinks of you.

For example:

Do you think the woman who paid $1,500 for her designer Coach bag is worth more than I am, having paid $70 for mine at a Christian consignment store?

If you think so, therein lies the problem. This world is so wrapped up in appearances, and those who lie about themselves often lie about everything else.

Being authentic means being faithful to the Designer of life, not pretending to be more elite than someone else simply because they foolishly paid full price for items made of worthless material.

As a servant of Christ, indwelled by His merciful Spirit, I understand that this world means nothing (1 John 2:15-17), and my home is not in worldly kingdoms but set aside in Christ’s Kingdom (Philippians 3:20).

I’ll wait!

Therefore, authenticity in Christ is a sign of trustworthiness (Proverbs 12:22), even when virtue is hated and labeled as corrupt (Isaiah 5:20).

The only people who hate our worth in Jesus—hate Jesus, pretending to love Him while truly loving their circles of influence—particularly in social circles labeled as churches, governments, and yes, families.

Scripture agrees:

1 Corinthians 12:12-14 (NIV)
“Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, neither slave nor free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.

Therefore, I idolize no one but Jesus, and the only people who hate that are those who cannot control me—or you—and we are ultimately a threat to their idolatry and fraud.

Ephesians 4:4-6 (NIV)
There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

One Name, JESUS!

Romans 12:4-5 (NIV)
For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.

One of the most profound problems in today’s church buildings, government buildings, and other areas of influence is the absence of prophets.

Father’s mouthpieces speak for God with keen discernment (Proverbs 2:6), warning others (Ezekiel 3:17), tearing down corruption (Jeremiah 1:10), and edifying and uplifting (1 Thessalonians 5:11), making room for the Lord’s command and power to accomplish His will accordingly (Philippians 2:13).

Jesus is the Head!

Colossians 1:18 (NIV)
And He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.

We are chosen from birth, often laden with past sins, and have suffered tremendously to serve as examples of God’s power to save and purify us, having been taught by Jesus, (1 John 2:27,) (Jeremiah 1:5).

1 Peter 2:9
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.”

I spent a great deal of my life morphing into what everyone wanted me to be, even who I thought I wanted to be. But thanks to Jesus Christ, I am now myself, and I protect His work.

Christ is my why.

I will never try to fit in, nor should you. Love authentically and stop letting people push you around. Jesus is worthy of praise.

And one last thing, Jesus Himself warned us that a prophet is never accepted in his own hometown or family (Matthew 13:57).

So, don’t expect to be accepted by those who don’t choose Jesus or understand His will or ways.

Love your family and care for them the best you can (1 Timothy 5:8), and when they turn on you, pray for them (Matthew 5:44).

Allow each of us to reap what we have sown, because God Himself said that He will not be mocked (Galatians 6:7).

Scripture References:

Matthew 13:57 (NIV)
And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, ‘A prophet is not without honor except in his own town and in his own home.’”

1 Timothy 5:8 (NIV)
Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.”

Matthew 5:44 (NIV)
But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”

Galatians 6:7 (NIV)
Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.”

Much love,
Sister Christine ❤️

C. Beach ©️