3:259 – BEING Naked Before God

#faithbites #faithjourney naked #BEINGChallenge

Setting

I got out of the shower this morning and looked at my clothes on the bed. Underwear, shorts, undershirt, shirt. If it was colder there would have been socks and a jacket. So many different items to wear so that I’m not naked. And I’m not even counting a bra for this who wear them.

I wonder who decided that we needed to wear clothes? Sure, clothes protect us from weather and damage, but why do we wear what we do?

Clothes are also a metaphor for what we cover up. When are we truly naked? Is it in prayer? With your spouse or loved ones? I may be undressed but rarely am I truly naked.

What would it be like if we were naked with one another? That is, being truly open to show all of our scars and our baggage? How would we react? How could we help each other?

Scripture

• Genesis 2:25 – And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed.
• Genesis 3:7 – Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths.
• Romans 8:35 – Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?

Reflection

Something happened between Genesis 2:25 and 3:7. Adam and Eve were naked and happy. They had nothing to hide. Then sin entered the world and they saw their nakedness and were ashamed.

Like being physically naked, we are ashamed of being emotionally and spiritually naked. This gives people ammunition to hurt us. They may not like what they see so we cover ourselves. Both in dress, makeup, attitude, and how we carry ourselves. We are no longer what God created in his image but what his image but what we made in ours.

I’m not advocating for us to strip and go naked. Just for a second imagine if you could share all of your thoughts, hopes, dreams, insecurities, and your full self with someone. I don’t know of anyone who does that 100% here on Earth.

Remember that we have Jesus. We can go to him with everything and he will make us new, whiter than newly fallen snow.

We shouldn’t try to cover up our nakedness with God. He sees right through it. Let us instead work at truly BEING with him in his image, by his commandments, and by his way.

Challenge

What is on your heart? What is the one thing you are ashamed of, fearful about, or worried. Share that in prayer.

Prayer

Father God, you made us in your image. You love us for who we are. You sent your Son to forgive us our sins. Help us come to you and be truly naked. Let us tear off the masks, the clothes, and the other adornments that we use to hide ourselves from you. They do no good. You love us truly, madly, and deeply for who we are. Instill in us that love. We don’t have to pretend around you.

Lord, we also pray that you help us find people in this life who we can be more naked around. Help us to slowly peel off the layers and masks that conceal us. We want to show that we are truly made in your image. In your name we pray, Amen.