Good morning dear one!

AUTHENTICITY means to be real, genuine, credible and not in any way misrepresented.  Christians have gotten a bad reputation because there are some believers who are not authentic in their faith.  We, as believers should strive to be as AUTHENTIC as Jesus was when He walked on the earth.  As as result, it’ll be much easier for us to win the world over into the kingdom of God.

Family, the Scripture tells us in Romans 12:9 to let our love be sincere; to hate what is evil and to hold fast to that which is good.  It’s easy to be fake, but God wants to be the distinguishing factor in our lives.  God wants His presence in our lives to separate us from all that’s pretend.  He wants us to have a real relationship with Him.  

Most people think it’s easy to have a real relationship with God, but it’s not.  Forming a genuine relationship with God takes time and genuine effort.  

Everything about Jesus was AUTHENTIC.  Jesus demonstrated Who He was and His life’s mission through infallible proofs (see Acts 1:3).  Family, people are watching our actions.  They want to know how AUTHENTIC we are.  They want to know if we are who we say we are!  Are you willing to allow your attitude to be tested?  Will you pass the test?  

Let’s learn to uphold God’s Word above man’s religious traditions.  In Mark 7, Jesus rebuked the Pharisees and the scribes because they held to the tradition of the elders instead of God’s Word.  He said to them in verses 6-7,

• “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: ‘This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me.  And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’”

He called them hypocrites because they upheld outward traditions instead of the things of God.  Hypocrisy among believers makes the word of God of no effect.  

I encourage you to BE AUTHENTIC as a believer of the Lord Jesus Christ and to let your light so shine among men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

Striving to walk uprightly,

Lisa Gordon

Assistant Pastor

Jesus City Church