Take a bow, you made it! It’s the end of another year and it’s by the Mercies of God that we are still here. Now, whether you know it or not, people have been watching you, and your refusal to quit has encouraged them more than you could ever imagine.
With that being said…This is the perfect time to Get Naked…
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne (Hebrews 12:1-2 NLT).
This crowd of witnesses is not just the Patriarchs of old, but also the people you inspire on a daily basis, even if you don’t recognize it. As you enter this new season, I’m challenging you to bare your soul; be open and honest about your tests and trials. It is not just your triumphs that will strengthen and encourage others, but it is also how you handle difficult situations and setbacks. Besides, it’s time to get rid of that excess weight (sin, disobedience, rebellion, etc.) once and for all. So, as you let it go in preparation for the next level, why not bless others by exposing the enemy and sharing some of the knowledge you’ve gained from your pitfalls and shortcomings. Hopefully, your openness can prevent others from making the same mistakes. Paul said it like this:
And I want you to know, my dear brothers and sisters, that everything that has happened to me here has helped to spread the Good News (Philippians 1:12 NLT).
Many of us have this erroneous belief that in order to inspire others, we must only allow them to see our good times, but that couldn’t be far from the truth. People are watching us and if we are not careful, our actions could cause them to become discouraged if we only allow them to see the victories. So, what happens is when they face difficult times they don’t know how to deal with it and they feel like they’re doing something wrong. If we are more transparent, even in the difficult times, it will encourage others and afford them an opportunity to see how to endure; and it can show them that it does not mean they are on the wrong track, but it could be a sign that they are on the right track.
Undoubtedly, the most important reason to Get Naked is so that you can receive your Total Deliverance. God wants to make you complete and lacking nothing; but you must first admit that you need it, and allow God to do the work in you. It would be a shame to live a life pleasing before men, but still be disqualified by God…Besides, He already knows everything about you, so you might as well, “Bare it all.”
Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable (Hebrews 4:13 NLT).
But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway (1 Corinthians 9:27).
So, That Settles It. If you truly want to inspire people, Get Naked and show them how to endure even when facing unfavorable situations. Follow Jesus’ lead. He wasn’t worried about the shame because He was so focused on the Joy of the Cross; and you see where it got Him: seated in a place of honor at the right hand of God.
