Masks 1

The past few weeks we've been talking about Life Minus the Masks. Along the journey we've looked at how Jesus wants to change our lives. Not just a little bit; completely. Not just on the outside; deep down. Not just on Sundays; moment by moment. Each Sunday we have been presenting a painted mask that represents the discussion for that day. The first Sunday's mask was this image of a water line. Above the water line is the part of our life that every one sees, the outside. Below the water line is where our heart is, it's the part most people don't see, the inside. Our discussion centered on Isaiah 1:10-20. In the passage the prophet has harsh words for those who live their spiritual life on the outside but remain unchanged on the inside. There was lots of religious activity, things like going to worship, praying, observing religious holy days. However the kinds of activities that show a real change of heart were conspicuously absent, things like compassion for the poor and the oppressed of our society. Jesus was no stranger to using words like this. Just like Isaiah spoke, Jesus called people to deep change, real change, change of the heart. God wants our heart. Without it He's like the broken hearted lover in a relationship gone cold. I wonder what our communities would look like if we opened our hearts to Jesus and allowed him into our lives, below the waterline. (Samantha Bird is our artist for these masks. Thanks, Sam!)