Who am I? Who Are You? - Day 10

I oftentimes wonder if people are being real with me. Okay I'm a skeptic. But how can I trust that this salesman is telling me the truth about this product? How do I know it'll last 3 years and not 1 year and a day (just to be sure it's not covered by the warranty.) How do I know that this person who says they care about me isn't lying and just trying to score brownie points with me.

But then I look at myself and see that I don't want to be real either. Do I want to open myself up to most likely get hurt in the end? Do I want to show people who I really am? The sinner who doesn't do things perfectly and fowls up more then anyone would ever want to admit? How about if I say something and then everyone despises me? I look at the world around me and see cruelty and unkindness. I see people constantly talking behind their "friend's" back. Why would I want to open myself up?

But can you really ever be close to someone if you don't every truly know them? Will someone ever be able to help you, pray for you, cry with you, and love you if they don't know the real you? Do you want a friend who doesn't even know and love the real you?

I want to meet the person I'm talking to. But then I wonder if I'd like people if they were being totally real. Maybe they would shoot me if I met the real them.

Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

On the other hand we shouldn't be sharing things that are evil. There are two sides to being real. If you utter gross and unhelpful things all the time and excuse it by saying, "well it's the real me, so people should suck it up and just know this is me." Well number one, there should be repentance there. We should be one to speak the truth and say what we're thinking but do it in the way that Philippians 4:8 directs. Of course a true friend will hopefully see that what you are sharing is evil and will lovingly reprove you. But we should never excuse the evil we think and utter by saying it's who we are.

To make this brief, let's go out and be real and not be offended easily when others do and say stupid or hurtful things. Our friendships will grow so much more and if Christ is the center of the friendship it will blossom.