I am so ashamed. I have a nasty toenail fungus, and I have two choices. I can either paint my toenails and pretend the fungus isn't there while it grows out of sight or I can leave the nail bare, treat it with an antifungal product and pray that it goes away! Toenail fungus! I've fought some white nail, thick nail and lifted nail issues for a few years, denying where this thing could take me. I took meds a few years ago but stopped when the insurance company denied the claim. I guess I could blame them for all of this, maybe even sue. But then, no amount of money or repayment will take away the fact that I have a toenail fungus and I have to decide to treat it instead of covering it up. I've decided to treat the problem!
What about you? What about life around us? What are we covering up, making it look really good while all the time something ugly is growing in the dark? Debt? Infedelity? Gossip? Anger? Jealousy? Self righteousness? A nation crumbling in its sin while we busy ourselves with idols? A church more focused on our needs than those of the lost world that Jesus died to save?
By the writing of the apostle Paul in I Corinthians 14, the Holy Spirit instructs us to have love as our highest goal. Then he says, "But you should also desire the special abilities the Spirit gives - especially the ability to prophesy." (NLT) He then talks about speaking in words that people can understand. Old Testament prophets were given so many living examples of a spiritual lesson God was speaking to His people. I believe the same is true with my toenail fungus. It has a living message for the people of God. And as His woman, I must choose to share this message, thus fulfilling Paul's calling that each of us have to prophecy - speak for God in the paths of your life.
A huge piece of God's peace comes from transparency before God about our sin, temptations and need for His cleansing grace. Are you "painting over" a growing problem in your heart or your walk in life? Let me encourage you to know it will only become worse with the cover up. Expose it to God - to someone you trust. And be amazed at the cleansing power of truth. The gospels are full of messages of Jesus' heart reaching out to those in sin and saying, "come".
"I know all the things you do, and that you have a reputation for being alive - but you are dead. Wake up! Strengthen what little remains, for even what is left is almost dead. I find that your actions do not meet the requirements of my God. Go back to what you heard and believed at first; hold to it firmly. Repent and turn to me again. If you don't wake up, I will come to you suddenly, as unexpected as a thief." Revelation 3:1-3
Time is short. Treat your fungus!
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