Authenticity

33 "And don't say anything you don't mean. This counsel is embedded deep in our traditions. 34 You only make things worse when you lay down a smoke screen of pious talk, saying, 'I'll pray for you,' and never doing it, or saying, 'God be with you,' and not meaning it. You don't make your words true by embellishing them with religious lace. In making your speech sound more religious, it becomes less true. 35 36 37 Just say 'yes' and 'no.' When you manipulate words to get your own way, you go wrong.
Matthew 5:33-37 (The Message)


At a community group leaders meeting last evening, we discussed 5 habits of a healthy small group with authenticity being one of the five that rose to the top in our breakout session where we discussed the importance of each. In a small group as well as in any relationship, either personal or business related, it is important to be “real” with each other and to take relational risks by being yourself and by being honest. God created you the way that you are and you were created that way for a reason. To try to be something that you are not would be a huge mistake as God has a perfect plan to use your personality traits and attributes, just the way that they are as He meets you today, right where you are in order that His power and love may shine through your life onto others. Be authentic today and take risks with others by being honest and you will see a miracle happen in your life as God intervenes and reflects His awesome love as a result of your Faithfulness to living your life for Him.