Sincerity

Webster defines it as: “Freedom from hypocrisy, disguise or false pretense.”  Synonyms include authenticity and genuineness.

Have you ever asked yourself if your life reflects your sincerely held beliefs?  We imagine that if we agree with it (whatever “it” may be), there must be some evidence of that in our lifestyle.  That’s what “walk the talk” means.  Would you be surprised if you found out differently?

The first line of The Lord’s Prayer, Our Father which art in heaven, is a pretty good test case.  Our Father means your Father and my Father – that’s pretty easy.  But it also means the Father of those with whom we disagree, even those we hate.  It means the Father of those in other countries and of other religions, or no religion.  It means the Father of the most abhorrent criminal and the most terrible despot.  Do we actually believe that?  Do we treat others – even those we don’t know – as our brothers and sisters, children of the same Father?

Whatever shifts we need to make in our lives and even our thoughts will occur naturally as we hold ourselves accountable to who we say we are.  And even greater progress will be made as we hold ourselves accountable to who God says we are!  He has the final word, doesn’t He?

Here are just a few things the Bible says that God knows about you:

• That you are His image and likeness (Genesis 1:26,27)

• That you are His sons and daughters (1 John 3:2)

• That you have eternal life (John 17:3)

• That you are blessed (Matthew 5:3-11)

• That you are perfect just like He is (Matthew 5: 48)

If you were to live your life as if you actually believed these things – lived in sincerity with these Bible truths – how different would your experience be than it is now?  Give it a try – don’t you think it’s worth knowing?

Mary Baker Eddy says, “A deep sincerity is sure of success, for God takes care of it.”  (Miscellany p. 203)  What better promise do we need than that?

Melissa Hayden is a Christian Science practitioner in Salem, OR. You can find more information and additional articles at this link.  If you like what you’re reading, click the “add me” button.