"Be Yourself" - Crosswalk The Devotional - April 12

Truths observed at the intersection of faith and life by Crosswalk.com editors [Crosswalk.com Logo]( Crosswalk: The Devotional [Devotionals]( [Newsletters]( [e-Cards]( [Learn more about RevenueStripe...]( Be Yourself by Stephen Sanders Have you ever had someone tell you to, "Just be yourself and everything will work out"? It sounds so simple, doesn't it? "Be Yourself." What does that even mean? After all, if we could simply "be ourselves," then wouldn't the world that surrounds us be a lot different? I often wonder what friendships would be like if we could simply be who we are inside; to not feel so much pressure to be less or more of an individual than we think we are supposed to be. One thing I've begun to focus on in recent months is being the same person everywhere I am no matter who I'm around, but that's a lot easier said than done. Don't get me wrong. I realize that none of us are exempt from sin. [1 John 1:8-10]( says this: "If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. [If we confess our sins]( he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us." Can you see how not dealing with sin appropriately keeps us from being ourselves? Behavior like this causes us to trick ourselves into thinking we are someone who we really aren't. When we ignore or hide sin, it breeds all kinds of issues, not only in us, but also in the body of Christ. So how should sin be handled? How can you "be yourself?" Well, here are 3 things that will certainly get us going in the right direction: Confession, confrontation, and forgiveness. We all know that we are supposed to confess our sins to God, but what about confessing our sins to one another? Where does that fit into the picture? The answer lies within [James 5:16]( which instructs us to, "...confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working." Why isn't the confession of sins more of a focus in the church today? Shouldn't we be doing this every chance we get if it results in "healing and righteousness?" Secondly, there is confrontation. Jesus says in [Matthew 18:15-17]( that, "If another member of the church sins against you, go and point out the fault when the two of you are alone. If the member listens to you, you have regained that one. But if you are not listened to, take one or two others along with you, so that every word may be confirmed by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If the member refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church..." Notice that this scenario starts with someone taking the initiative to point out the sin. Also notice that this person risks not only putting his friend in an uncomfortable situation but also being humiliated in front of others if he is wrong about his assessment. It's easy to see why the church struggles with this; it's not a simple solution. [CONTINUE READING →]( [Learn more about RevenueStripe...]( You May Also Like: [Married Sex: What Is Okay with God?]( Pam and Bill Farrel In this over-sexed and under-loved world, Christian couples are looking for the real deal, the secret to lasting love with a vibrant sex life. [CONTINUE READING →]( [Learn more about RevenueStripe...]( [Should I Attend a Gay Wedding?]( Dr. Roger Barrier I've loved my niece her whole life and care about her partner. If I attend their marriage, however, I feel I’m lying by showing support for an unholy union. And if I don't attend, future relations may be forever damaged. Please help us sort this out. [CONTINUE READING →]( [Crosswalk.com Logo]( [Read about Salem Web Network]( | [Unsubscribe From This Email]( [Email Preference Center]( | [View in Browser]( © 2021 Salem Web Network. All rights reserved. 111 Virginia Street, Suite 500, Richmond, VA 23219. This email is never sent unsolicited. You are receiving this email because your email address, {EMAIL}, is signed up to receive newsletters, updates, and special offers from Crosswalk.com - The Devotional. [Link](