The fine art of genuineness

I'm an observer. A people watcher.

I could never stay awake when reading psychology textbooks. My studying human behavior comes by listening and observing.

Too often, we say one thing and do another.

We say to someone facing difficulty, "I love you. I'm praying for you." Then we walk away and forget about the person and his/her problem.

We ask people, "How are you?" and never stop to listen to the answer.

When another believer asks us, "How are you?" we quickly respond, "Oh, I'm blessed." Sometimes, we are too proud to ask for prayer. Or too ungrateful to share a praise report or testimony that doesn't have anything to do with a new car or a big raise.

To be genuine is to be FOR REAL. Authentic. True. Legit (a.k.a. legitimate).

The opposite is to be PHONY. Fake. Deceitful. Two-faced.

We expect an element of phony from Hollywood. They're actors and actresses. But should we see the same behavior in the Church, The Body of Christ?

Absolutely not.

Romans 12:9 (KJV) Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil;cleave to that which is good.

Roman 12:9 (AMP)[Let your] love be sincere (a real thing); hate what is evil [loathe all ungodliness, turn in horror from wickedness], but hold fast to that which is good.

How can we be genuine in the midst of insincerity, hypocrisy, and self-absorption? In the world. And in the Church.

PRAYER:

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer. Psalms 19:14

I do not want to be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs]. I want to be transformed by the renewing of my mind so that I may prove what is the good, acceptable, and perfect will of God. Romans 12:2