"Come out of the closet" is a phrase with connotations that many would prefer to keep private. Yet when the phrase is used liberally, with a wide range of possible meanings, it can be used to unlock the meanings of God's Word.

 

In our Epistle for this weekend, Paul urges us to "put to death whatever belongs to your earthly nature." This is something that cannot be done by playing hide and seek with God. We must "come out of the closet", if you will, with our sins and shortcomings in order to benefit from the free gift of grace in Christ.

 

Beyond this, God asks us to "come out of the closet" when it comes to our real identity. Our real identity is not in our occupation or in our material possessions. It's not even in our key human relationships. It is rather in Christ and in Christ alone.

 

This weekend let's be real with each other and with God regarding who we are, in and of ourselves, and who we are as baptized children of God. Until then...be real!

 

In His Service,

Pastor Haun

Text:  Ecclesiastes 1:2, 1:12-14, 2:18-26; Colossians 3:1-11; Luke 12:13-21