WISDOM FOR LIVING DAILY DEVOTIONAL
SEPTEMBER 18, 2023
TOPIC: REMOVE YOUR MASKS
BY T. O. BANSO
“You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed — God is our witness” (1 Thessalonians 2:5 New International Version).
There are different kinds of physical masks that people wear. There are surgical masks, traditional masks, theatrical masks, and protective masks. Sometimes someone can wear a mask to conceal his identity. The wearer operates from under the mask. Job 24:14-15 says, “They are murderers who rise in the early dawn to kill the poor and needy; at night they are thieves and adulterers, waiting for the twilight ‘when no one will see me,’ they say. They mask their faces so no one will know them” (The Living Bible). Note the phrase “They mask their faces.” Other than the insiders, often, only the wearer of a mask knows his identity.
But outside the physical masks, there are masks that human beings wear daily, and these define them more than the physical masks that are worn for a shorter period. Many people live their lives wearing masks, thus portraying a character different from who they are.
Writing to the Thessalonians, Paul said, “You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed — God is our witness” (1 Thessalonians 2:5 New International Version). Unlike Paul, some people put on masks to cover up greed or other sins in their lives. They need to remove their masks and renounce their sinful ways.
Some people hardly live the person they truly are. Just as actors, wear masks, pretending, they also go about life under a mask they wear. Jesus used the word “hypocrites” to describe the religious leaders of His days who behaved this way. Such people have a double life – the person they are in their private life (the real person) and the person they pretend to be. I’m not talking about when someone must behave in line with what protocol demands of everyone.
The Apostle Paul said, “But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God” (2 Corinthians 4:2 New King James Version). That means Paul was real. He didn’t wear a mask.
Remove your masks. Be real. Proverbs 23:6-7 says, “Do not eat the bread of a miser, nor desire his delicacies; for as he thinks in his heart, so is he. ‘Eat and drink!’ he says to you, but his heart is not with you” (New King James Version). Such people are fake. They say something but mean another. The image they are trying to project is different from their real persons.
According to Proverbs 26:24-26, “He who hates, disguises it with his lips, and lays up deceit within himself; when he speaks kindly, do not believe him, for there are seven abominations in his heart; though his hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness will be revealed before the assembly” (New King James Version).
People wear masks (I’m not talking about physical masks here) basically for two reasons – to conceal their real identity and to imitate others. This could be because of past rejection, past failure, perceived inadequacies, insecurity, poor self-esteem, the need for acceptance and validation, etc. There is no reason for anyone to wear a mask, deny who he is, and go about living a lie.
Accept who you are; don’t try to copy another person. Don’t try to compare yourself with others. Those who compare themselves with others are not wise (2 Corinthians 10:12). Wearing masks destroys you and destroys relationships. Relationships are built on trust. When you wear masks, you’re not true to yourselves and to those you relate with.
Your true identity can only be found in God. Be established in the love of God. Discover God’s purpose for your life and pursue it. Don’t live your life seeking to please people or looking for their validation.
Nobody is perfect. Don’t fake what you don’t have. Use what God has given you. Be who God has created you to be. Don’t pretend to be who you’re not. That doesn’t mean you don’t learn from others or improve yourself.
Paul says, “And I will keep on doing what I am doing in order to cut the ground from under those who want an opportunity to be considered equal with us in the things they boast about. For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve” (2 Corinthians 11:12-15 New International Version). These people wore masks. They were fake. They were pretenders.
In Luke 20:20, the Bible says that the chief priests and the scribes sent to Jesus spies who pretended to be righteous so that they might seize on His words, to deliver Him to the power and the authority of the governor. Note that these spies only pretended to be righteous; they were not.
Someone can wear a mask, pretending to be righteous. But that is a waste of time. It is also foolish because the Lord knows everyone. 2 Timothy 2:19 says, “Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: ‘The Lord knows those who are His,’ and, ‘Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity’” (New King James Version).
Remove every mask you’re wearing. Don’t live through life being an actor! 2 Timothy 3:5 says, in the last days, people will have a form of godliness but deny its power. In other words, they will act as if they’re religious but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Don’t act as if you’re righteous, holy, honest, faithful, etc. Be real. You are God’s workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that you should walk in them (Ephesians 2:10).
Don’t pretend. There is nothing hidden that will not be exposed one day. “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. 2 For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, nor hidden that will not be known” (Luke 12:1a-2 New King James version). Don’t live as a hypocrite. Remove your masks.
As said in 2 Corinthians 11:14, Satan transforms himself into an angel of light. Nevertheless, Satan remains Satan! Whatever masks you wear, you remain who you are. If you transform yourself into what you’re not by wearing masks, you’re a counterfeit! What the Bible says is “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Romans 12:2 New King James Version).
Don’t mask your face! Remove it. You can wear a mask and be living in sin but God sees you. Human beings may not know but God does. Repent before your sins find you out, catch up with you, overtake you, or track you down (Numbers 32:23). Repent today.
TAKE ACTION!
If you are not born again, you need to give your life to Jesus now. I urge you to take the following steps: *Admit that you are a sinner and you cannot save yourself and repent of your sins. *Confess Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. *Renounce your past way of life – your relationship with the devil and his works. *Invite Jesus into your life. *As a mark of seriousness to mature in the faith, start attending a Bible-believing and Bible-teaching church. There they will teach you how to grow in the Kingdom of God.
Kindly say this prayer now: O Lord God, I come unto You today. I know I am a sinner and I cannot save myself. I believe that Jesus is the Son of God who died on the cross to save me and God raised Him on the third day. I repent of my sins and confess Jesus as my Lord and Saviour. I surrender my life to Jesus now and invite Him into my heart. By this prayer, I know I am saved. Thank You, Jesus, for saving me and making me a child of God.
I believe you have said this prayer from your heart. Congratulations! You will need to join a Bible-believing and Bible-teaching church in your area where they will teach you how to live your new life in Christ Jesus. I pray that you flourish like a palm tree and grow like a cedar of Lebanon. May you grow into Christ in all things and become all God wants you to be. I will be glad to hear from you. The Lord be with you.
PRAYER POINTS: Father, I remove my masks; I shall no more live a lie in Jesus’ name. Holy Spirit, I receive Your help not to live a double life. I shall not live as a pretender or hypocrite. Father, expose those wearing masks to deceive me.
(For over 900 in-depth and powerful messages by T. O. Banso, visit www.cedarministry.org).
T. O. Banso is the President of Cedar Ministry International, Abuja, Nigeria.
Phone No: +2348155744752, +2348033113523
WhatsApp No: +2349081295947
Email: cedarministryintl@yahoo.com,
cedarministryng@gmail.com
Website: www.cedarministry.org
