This Is the Way: A 30-Day Journey Through the Book of ActsSample

Genuine All the Way Through

By Joakim Lundqvist

“As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.” —Acts 4:20 (NIV)

The members of the Sanhedrin, the Jewish council of Jerusalem, were astonished! Standing before them were two ordinary, uneducated men who just received a serious warning to never again speak of or teach in the name of Jesus. Peter and John must have known that to disobey such a command would mean flogging, prison time, or even death. Still, the boldness in their eyes and confidence in their voices made it clear to the council they couldn’t care less what they commanded.

Why? Because they had heard something, and they had seen something. They had heard the life-giving teachings of their Master, Jesus Christ, and they had seen His teachings come alive in a lifestyle that matched it. And as their seeing and hearing melded together into one harmonious example of what the kingdom of God was all about, it turned into a fire inside their hearts no one could quench!

This fiery passion has lasted more than two thousand years. Still today, few things are more impactful in this world than followers of Jesus who embody His teachings in both word and deed—believers who communicate the gospel in both the seeing and the hearing. You might describe them as people who “talk the talk” and “walk the walk.”

Many years ago, my family and I went on holiday to the island of Cyprus in Greece. During our trip we visited a water park with insanely fast and wild slides that felt so extreme, it’s a wonder the local authorities hadn’t shut it down!

We had a great time and went on all the exhilarating and heart-pounding waterslides! At the end of the day, I went down one so fast that when it launched me into the pool, I hit the water with such force I broke my finger. Even more unfortunate, it was my ring finger on my left hand—the one with my wedding band. It immediately began to swell, so I had to cut it off. (The ring, not the finger!)

When I saw the cut edges of the ring, I noticed it was gold all the way through. This was no surprise, but it reminded me of something: the definition of real, genuine gold is that it must be gold all the way through—the same material on both the outside and the inside. This definition is the same for a real, genuine Christian. What’s on the outside—what everybody sees—should be just as genuine as what’s on the inside—the hidden life known only to you and God.

God is not the only one who looks for what’s genuine and real. The whole world is attracted to it because deep down we’re all created to live genuine, real, and honest lives—ones that are the same all the way through.

The longing and desire to be real can drive people to embrace extreme ideologies simply to feel radical and genuine. Why did so many young people follow destructive leaders like Hitler, Stalin, and Lenin? Because these leaders were fervent and passionate—even about immoral and ungodly beliefs—and that authenticity drew young people in. They were attracted to it!

On the other hand, there are people who claim to have faith in God and deep convictions but are really just keeping up appearances. They aren’t genuine and sometimes come across as fake. This is how people viewed the Pharisees in the New Testament, and it resulted in a whole society associating God and His kingdom with empty words, laws, and regulations without life and power.

Jesus reacted strongly against these types of people. The ones He sent out to represent His kingdom and preach His gospel were simple, non-professional, and very imperfect. But they were genuine. Genuine in their passion for Him. Genuine in having seen and heard something they couldn’t keep to themselves. Genuine in repenting and turning back to Jesus when they failed instead of making excuses, covering their mistakes, or hiding.

Our world is longing to see genuine Christians in their own generation. Praise God for pastors, evangelists, and preachers, but no one is a stronger testimony for Jesus than someone who is part of a person’s everyday life. Friends, neighbors, fellow students, work colleagues, and family members will look at your lifestyle and values to see what’s genuine. Your lifestyle may be the only Bible someone will ever read!

You aren’t required to answer every question you get asked, succeed in everything you do, or be invincible, but people do need to see and hear that you are real in your relationship with God. This is why it’s so important for you and me to take inventory of our lives on a regular basis, noting what’s genuine and what’s merely a mask. Then we need to have the courage to hand those masks to Jesus and ask Him for the power to transform that part of our lives into something real, genuine, and the same all the way through. May our examples light the way to the house of the Father.

Prayer

Father, thank You for the things I’ve heard and seen because I know You are who You say You are. I want to be bold like Peter and John and tell the world about Your great love. If there’s anything in me that’s fake or putting on a show, please remove it from my life. I surrender to You, Lord, and ask for You to purify my heart. I want to live a life of genuine authenticity so that others may see You in me. Thank You, Father, for hearing my prayer. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Activation

• Take some time to honestly examine your words and actions. Are you “genuine all the way through”— in both your public and private life? Consider areas where you might be putting on a mask or living inconsistently with your beliefs.
• Challenge yourself to have a genuine conversation with someone about your faith. Share both your convictions and your struggles, aiming for honesty rather than perfection.
• Think about your daily interactions at work, school, or in your neighborhood. How can you embody your beliefs in practical, visible ways? Consider one specific action you can take this week.

For Further Study

Acts 4; Psalm 51:10–13; Matthew 16:1–12; Matthew 23; 1 Corinthians 3:11–16

Holy Spirit, what are you saying to me?